turn 1 of 2

Definition of turnnext
1
as in to rotate
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis turned the doorknob as quietly as possible

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2
as in to swing
to change the course or direction of (something) the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around he turned his cart uphill

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3
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we turned left at the light the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area

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4
as in to become
to eventually have as a state or quality will turn 12 in six months

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5
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7
as in to depend
to be determined by, based on, or subject (to) what we do next turns on your answer to the following question

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8
as in to spin
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around all the new information made his head turn

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9
as in to persuade
to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife

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turn

2 of 2

noun

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5
as in bout
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder a sudden turn of dizziness that may have been brought on by a change in her medication

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6
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group between the show's two major musical acts, there was a short turn by a juggling troupe

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turn
Verb
Munn and her husband share two children, Malcolm, 4, and Mei Mei, who will turn 2 this fall. Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026 That’s not an opinion shared by MVP Arena in Albany, though, which expects to turn a tidy profit this weekend. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
But the inevitability of destruction would soon come and your ship would crash, ending your turn. Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026 The night was positioned as a celebration of West’s catalog and influence, with guest turns meant to underscore the breadth of his musical alliances. Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • How to rotate your mattress Can’t flip your mattress?
    Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Participants will rotate through Inter Miami Academy-style training stations led by Academy coaches.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The three Americans and one Canadian will swing around the moon in their Orion capsule, hang a U-turn and then head straight back home without stopping.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • This fuel burn sets Orion on a path around the moon called a free return trajectory, which essentially means the spacecraft will enter the moon’s gravitational influence (but won’t orbit our natural satellite) and will swing around its far side.
    Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If the Giants don’t deviate from their rotation, Tyler Mahle will pitch on Saturday, while Landen Roupp and Adrian Houser will handle the first two games of the series in San Diego on Monday and Tuesday.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Accordingly, the warring factions have competed to depict themselves as the true embodiment of MAGA and paint their rivals as undermining Trump or deviating from his precepts.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.
    OCVarsity sports staff, Oc Register, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Enjoying a full life, Harold became nostalgic about his high school days.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Take, for example, a $50 million revolving credit line.
    Ben Weiss, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Applications for that program will open monthly on a revolving basis beginning April 1, and close the next day, a tight window that city officials said is necessary because of overwhelming demand.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Who ever ponders the conveniences of that 20th-century innovation, the airplane, that makes 21st-century hustle possible?
    CBS News, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • But news is expected soon on the Hall of Fame KU coach, who is pondering his future after having heart problems the past few years.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, mold reactions depend on the type of mold, amount of mold and the person exposed.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The survival of African biennials depends on strategic reinvention.
    Smooth Nzewi, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Dear Lord, please help Kristi and Bryon spin this without costing the taxpayers millions of dollars to hire a PR firm.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
  • As a result, the lineup was expanded and a DJ will teach kids how to spin music.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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