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
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 turns (on)
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
After a few turns on the Superstar, Sp5der and Adidas are now looking to combine the retro aesthetics of soccer and running on a brand-new silhouette.
—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Phytic acid binds directly to HDAC3 and turns on its activity.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
Paula turns on a dime, expertly masks her horror, stress, and despair, and puts on a smile for her little girl.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
The plot turns on the mystery of a handkerchief that Othello gives to Desdemona.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
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.
—
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
These priority zones focus on pedestrian traffic by installing crosswalks at all intersections, banning right turns on red lights, increasing crossing time, shading sidewalks, lowering speed limits and reducing driving lane widths.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
After a few turns on the Superstar, Sp5der and Adidas are now looking to combine the retro aesthetics of soccer and running on a brand-new silhouette.
—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Phytic acid binds directly to HDAC3 and turns on its activity.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
Paula turns on a dime, expertly masks her horror, stress, and despair, and puts on a smile for her little girl.
—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
The plot turns on the mystery of a handkerchief that Othello gives to Desdemona.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
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.
—
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns (on)
Verb
-
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-
Another device, called a 4-Poster bait station, attacks the ticks that congregate on deer’s heads.
Verb
-
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.
-
The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.
Verb
-
Mamdani triggers emergency plan for heat On Monday, June 29, the mayor's office announced the activation of a Heat Emergency plan, preparing cooling centers across the city, alongside other options for New Yorkers stuck outside.
-
Destruction of mammalian tissues typically triggers a complex mix of responses from the immune and repair systems.
Verb
-
Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
-
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.
Verb
-
That authenticity across the board, in addition to what the story is amplifying, excites Talwalkar to no end.
-
And more than its protein content, what excites Richter most about the popular crucifer is its abundance of fiber, vitamin C, and glucosinolates, which are plant compounds that are converted into sulforaphane, a phytochemical studied for its role in supporting cellular health and healthy aging.
Verb
-
Rucking activates the upper trapezius, shoulders, upper back, abdominals, obliques and lower back, according to trainers and coaches who specialize in the method.
-
Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
-
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.
-
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
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.
-
This transit electrifies creativity, romance, pleasure and self-expression.
Cite this Entry
“Turns (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns%20%28on%29. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
