Skip to content

turn

/tɜɹn/noun, verb1 syllable

Turn means: twist suddenly so as to sprain.

Synonyms for turn51

noun, as in a short performance that is part of a longer program

noun, as in a circular segment of a curve

noun, as in a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

noun, as in an unforeseen development

turn of events, twist

noun, as in (sports) a division of a game during which one team is on the offensive

noun, as in the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

noun, as in (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession

noun, as in a movement in a new direction

noun, as in turning or twisting around (in place)

noun, as in a favor for someone

good turn

verb, as in twist suddenly so as to sprain

twist, sprain, wrench, wrick, rick

verb, as in go sour or spoil

sour, ferment, work

verb, as in cause (an object) to assume a crooked or angular form

flex, bend, deform, twist

verb, as in undergo a transformation or a change of position or action

change state, become, grow

verb, as in undergo a change or development

become, change state

verb, as in change to the contrary

change by reversal, reverse

verb, as in pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

grow, change state

verb, as in to break and turn over earth especially with a plow

plow, plough

verb, as in pass to the other side of

move around

verb, as in let (something) fall or spill from a container

verb, as in cause to move around a center so as to show another side of

turn over

verb, as in cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics

verb, as in have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to

call on

also used for turn

rotate, spin, twirl, steer, swerve, tack, get, come, fall, wax, go bad, go off, spoil, rebel, revolt

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does turn mean?38

verb

1

twist suddenly so as to sprain“wrench one's ankle”

2

go sour or spoil“The milk has soured”

3

cause (an object) to assume a crooked or angular form“bend the rod”

4

undergo a transformation or a change of position or action“We turned from Socialism to Capitalism”

5

undergo a change or development“The water turned into ice”

6

change to the contrary“The trend was reversed”

7

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become“The weather turned nasty”

8

to break and turn over earth especially with a plow“Farmer Jones plowed his east field last week”

9

pass to the other side of“turn the corner”

10

let (something) fall or spill from a container“turn the flour onto a plate”

11

cause to move around a center so as to show another side of“turn a page of a book”

12

cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics“The princess turned the frog into a prince by kissing him”

13

have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to“She called on her Representative to help her”

14

to change orientation or direction“Turn towards me”

15

cause to move around or rotate“turn a key”

16

move around an axis or a center“The wheels are turning”

17

to send or let go“They turned away the crowd at the gate of the governor's mansion”

18

shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel“turn the legs of the table”

19

change color“In Vermont, the leaves turn early”

20

accomplish by rotating“turn a somersault”

21

get by buying and selling“the company turned a good profit after a year”

22

cause to move along an axis or into a new direction“turn your face to the wall”

23

channel one's attention, interest, thought, or attention toward or away from something“The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction”

24

alter the functioning or setting of“turn the dial to 10”

25

direct at someone“She turned a smile on me”

26

become officially one year older“She is turning 50 this year”

noun

1

a short performance that is part of a longer program“he did his act three times every evening”

2

a circular segment of a curve“a bend in the road”

3

a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)“it's my go”

4

an unforeseen development“events suddenly took an awkward turn”

5

(sports) a division of a game during which one team is on the offensive

6

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course“he took a turn to the right”

7

(game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession“it is my turn”

8

a movement in a new direction“the turning of the wind”

9

turning or twisting around (in place)“with a quick twist of his head he surveyed the room”

10

a favor for someone“he did me a good turn”

11

the act of turning away or in the opposite direction“he made an abrupt turn away from her”

12

taking a short walk out and back“we took a turn in the park”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with turn?12

one syllable

learnburnearnsternfernurnkernchurnyearn

two syllables

Show 40 near rhymes

Turn in a sentence

  • Turn left at the next corner, and you'll find the station.Zifre
  • That decision, in turn, was affected by the geological structure of the hill itself.unknown
  • George, if you are not listening to the radio, turn it off.CN
  • Jane got too nervous when her turn came, and she blew her lines.CP
  • Turn this to the right, and the machine will start.CM
  • If you turn a blind eye to something, you ignore it.unknown
  • When you dislike others, you are disliked by them in turn.unknown
  • If you drive carelessly, you will miss your turn.AlanF_US

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of turn

as a noun

plural
turns

as a verb

past tense
turned
present participle
turning
third-person singular
turns
past participle
turned