turn back

verb

turned back; turning back; turns back

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go in the reverse direction

b

: to stop going forward

2

: to refer to an earlier time or place

transitive verb

1

: to drive back or away

2

: to stop the advance of

3

: to fold back

4

: give back, return

Phrases

turn back the clock

: to revert to or remind of a condition existing in the past

Synonyms

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

Examples of turn back in a Sentence

a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

Recent Examples on the Web

Pic suffered a tough break when, shortly into the premiere showing at Roy Thomson Hall when the propulsive narrative was just taking off, the film had to be halted and the lights turned back on because of a medical emergency suffered by a ticketholder. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025

Palestinians have appeared ready for peace in the past, only to turn back to rejection and terrorism. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Hard comedy at the top, sentiment squeezed into the middle, a turn back toward comedy at the end. —Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

The first plane is over Mexico, the second is over the Gulf, according to the New York Times; neither turns back. —George Petras, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for turn back

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

turn back

verb

1

: to go in the reverse direction : return

turned back for home

2

: to stop the advance of : check

turned back the enemy