as in attacks
to take sudden, violent action against
it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrills
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in triggers
to cause to function
would you turn on the TV?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turns (on)
Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026
Moving south, the route turns on Mill Creek Parkway to end at Theis Park.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
The new northbound camera also could capture unlawful right turns on red by drivers who fail to stop or who turn in a manner the city describes as not careful and prudent.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dramedy turns on Bella and Elliot, their families and the everyday chaos that comes with living with ADHD and autism.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Manually lift the float switch to ensure the motor turns on.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Mobi Fold embraces its bendy nature and, sensibly, automatically turns on when opened up and turns off when it’s folded shut.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026
Moving south, the route turns on Mill Creek Parkway to end at Theis Park.
—Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
The new northbound camera also could capture unlawful right turns on red by drivers who fail to stop or who turn in a manner the city describes as not careful and prudent.
—Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Dramedy turns on Bella and Elliot, their families and the everyday chaos that comes with living with ADHD and autism.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Manually lift the float switch to ensure the motor turns on.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns (on)
Verb
-
Democrats, meanwhile, say the rhetoric sounds strikingly similar to the populist arguments advanced by the very progressives DeSantis routinely attacks.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
-
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Her strict economy, honed by her early years of writing and endlessly revising (under the exacting eye of Allene Talmey) tight captions for Vogue, thrills the editor in me.—
Zinzi Clemmons,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Both are subject to disruption from the Milky Way's gravity, which triggers bursts of star formation within them and rips away a stream of gas from both, called the Magellanic Stream.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
-
This temperature disparity triggers a phenomenon known as the Weibel instability, which generates the magnetic fields.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Football, in general, still excites Williams.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
-
And that's what excites me now in this period of transition in my career.—
Caroline Killilea,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
With swift footwork, Bottura activates his celebrity to focus the world’s attention on the tragedy in Modena.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The carrier's new Unlimited Day Pass, available on eSIM-capable unlocked iPads, does not require a contract or a credit check before a $3 payment activates 24 hours of mobile broadband.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Verb
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In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
What starts as one state utility trying to see its own network more clearly could end up as part of the blueprint for how the developing world electrifies its future.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
This transit electrifies creativity, romance, pleasure and self-expression.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turns (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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