turn away

verb

turned away; turning away; turns away

transitive verb

1

a

: to refuse admittance or acceptance to

b

: to send away : reject, dismiss

c

: repel

2

: deflect, avert

intransitive verb

: to start to go away : depart

Synonyms

• beat off
• fend (off)
• rebut
• repel
• repulse
• stave off
• turn back

Examples of turn away in a Sentence

using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid

Recent Examples on the Web

In a media landscape that is turning away from institutions and toward more relatable, personal sources of information, McMahon is a small bright spot. —Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 17 Sep. 2024

Most regulars were understanding, but some pushed back, and McClure had to turn away people who refused to follow the rule. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2024

Some records skew metal, others psych-rock, or electronic, or jazz, or, like Flying Microtonal Banana, take a left turn away from Western music constraints entirely. —Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024

As one of the few documentaries at Telluride that had to turn away large crowds, Ferrell’s charming star persona could put him in the hunt for his first Oscar nomination as a producer. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

turn away

verb

: to refuse to let in : send away

all the seats were sold and a large crowd had to be turned away