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

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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
This legislative session, lawmakers changed the state’s law to include e-bikes, closing a loophole that came to light after a 2024 case where a driver turned into an e-bike rider in downtown Boise. Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026 After a fire burns down the family’s home and turns their lives upside down, her children are placed in foster care. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
Noun
Having confidence to stay on throttle on blind turns with a cliff on your side is a whole new level of confidence. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The encounter began after Officer Yasmani Gonzalez attempted to stop Calvo for making a left turn from a lane designated for right turns only. Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
  • The weekly series along the New River also includes live music, a farmers and craft market with a rotating lineup of local businesses and artisans, as well as gourmet food vendors.
    Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Deschamps has rotated between Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez in that position with both players much more effective going forward than covering the space behind them.
    Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Beat a prime Holloway at 170, though, and the door swings back open to the paydays he's chased since the rematch became official.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • To the fans who have watched the Warriors swing and miss on free agents and various trade targets over the last few years, watching Simons sign with another team was painful.
    Nick Friedell, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Honda's vehicles feature a distinct design language and identity that evolves without deviating from the brand's ethos.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • And yet at the start of the Mass, a priest read aloud a statement justifying the consecrations as a necessary defense of the faith and criticizing how the Catholic Church today had deviated from tradition.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • As Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding approaches, experts say the ceremony is poised to become much more than a celebrity milestone.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Swift is known for her Fourth of July parties, which have become Rhode Island lore.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The innovation used a revolving cylinder and a reversible wringer to separate and clean clothing.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • For those carrying tens of thousands of dollars in revolving debt, those interest charges can make the repayment process feel like a moving target.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • This anxiety often leads to rumination, where individuals endlessly ponder potential outcomes without actual preparation, mistakenly equating thinking with problem-solving.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Bravo is sipping its cuppa and pondering what to do about those interesting ladies across the pond.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • From there, the workup depends on what a doctor finds.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online depending on local jurisdiction.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Codex can be helpful for a wide range of tasks like generating spreadsheets for monthly reports, using a call transcript to prepare a brief and log it into Salesforce or spinning up six different types of content from one piece of text.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • There is surely some retroactive continuity here, the writer going back in time to spin an origin story about the idea that would become the center of her spiritual writing.
    Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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