turn

1 of 2

verb

ˈtərn 

turned; turning; turns

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to move around an axis or a center : make rotate or revolve

turn a wheel

turn a crank

b(1)

: to cause to move around so as to effect a desired end (as of locking, opening, or shutting)

turned the knob till the door opened

(2)

: to affect or alter the functioning of (something, such as a mechanical device) or the level of (something, such as sound) by such movement

turn the oven to 400°

turn the music to full volume

c

: to execute or perform by rotating or revolving

turn handsprings

d

: to twist out of line or shape : wrench

had turned his ankle

2

a(1)

: to cause to change position by moving through an arc of a circle

turned her chair to the fire

(2)

: to cause to move around a center so as to show another side of

turn the page

(3)

: to cause (a scale) to move so as to register weight

b

: to revolve mentally : think over : ponder

3

a

: to reverse the sides or surfaces of : invert

turn pancakes

turn the shirt inside out

: such as

(1)

: to dig or plow so as to bring the lower soil to the surface

turn the compost weekly

(2)

: to make (a garment) over by reversing the material and resewing

turn a collar

(3)

: to invert (something, such as a character, rule, or slug) feet up and face down in setting type

b

: to reverse or upset the order or disposition of

everything was turned topsy-turvy

c

: to disturb or upset the mental balance of

a mind turned by grief

d

: to set in another especially contrary direction

4

a

: to bend or change the course of : divert

a battle that turned the tide of history

b

: to bend a course around or about : round

turned the corner at full speed

c

: to cause to retreat

used fire hoses to turn the mob

d

: to alter the drift, tendency, or expected result of

5

a(1)

: to direct or point (something, such as the face) in a specified way or direction

(2)

: to present by a change in direction or position

turning his back to his guests

b

: to direct (something, such as the attention or mind) toward or away from something

c

: to direct the employment of : apply, devote

turned his skills to the service of humankind

d(1)

: to cause to rebound or recoil

turns their argument against them

(2)

: to make antagonistic : prejudice

turn a child against its mother

e(1)

: to cause to go in a particular direction

turned our steps homeward

(2)

: drive, send

turn cows to pasture

turning hunters off his land

(3)

: to convey or direct out of an inverted receptacle

turn the mixture into a baking dish

f

: to bring to bear (as by aiming, pointing, or focusing) : train

turned the light into the dark doorway

turned a questioning eye toward her

6

a(1)

: to make acid or sour

(2)

: to change the color of (foliage)

b(1)

: convert, transform

turn defeat into victory

(2)

: translate, paraphrase

c

: to cause to become of a specified nature or appearance

turned him into a frog

embarrassment turned her face red

d

: to exchange for something else

turn coins into paper money

e

: to cause to defect to another side

7

a

: to shape especially in a rounded form by applying a cutting tool while revolving in a lathe

b

: to give a rounded form to by any means

turn the heel of a sock

c

: to shape or mold artistically, gracefully, or neatly

a well turned phrase

8

: to make a fold, bend, or curve in:

a

: to form by bending

turn a lead pipe

b

: to cause (the edge of a blade) to bend back or over : blunt, dull

9

a

: to gain in the course of business

turning a quick profit

b

: to keep (money, goods, etc.) moving

specifically : to dispose of (a stock) to make room for another

c

: to make use of

turned her education to advantage

d

: to carry to completion : pull off

turned a double play

turn a deal

10

informal : to engage in (a sex act as a sex worker)

turning tricks [=taking payment for performing sex acts]

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move around on an axis or through an arc of a circle : rotate

b(1)

: to become focused on something specified

the conversation turned to baseball

(2)

: to have as a decisive factor : hinge

the argument turns on a point of logic

the outcome of the game turned on an interception

(3)

: to have a center (as of interest) in something specified

the discussion turned on the overall worth of the project

c

: to become giddy or dizzy : spin

heights always made his head turn

2

a

: to direct one's course

b(1)

: to reverse a course or direction

the tide has turned

(2)

: to have a reactive usually adverse effect

c

: to take a different course or direction

turned toward home

the main road turns sharply to the right

3

a

: to change position (as of one's head) so as to face another way

everyone turned to stare

b

: to face toward or away from someone or something

flowers turn toward the light

c

: to change one's attitude or reverse one's course of action to one of opposition or hostility

felt the world had turned against him

d

: to make a sudden violent assault especially without evident cause

dogs turning on their owners

4

a

: to direct one's attention to or away from someone or something

b

: to have recourse : refer, resort

turned to a friend for help

turned to his notes for the exact figures

c

: to direct one's efforts or activity : devote or apply oneself

turned to the study of the law

turned to a life of crime

d(1)

: to change one's religion

(2)

: to go over to another side or party : defect

5

a

: to become changed, altered, or transformed

the weather turned

: such as

(1)

: to change color

the leaves have turned

(2)

: to become sour, rancid, or tainted

the milk had turned

(3)

: to be variable or inconstant

(4)

: to become mentally unbalanced

(5)

archaic : to become different

b(1)

: to pass from one state to another : change

water had turned to ice

(2)

: become, grow

his hair had turned gray

the weather turned bad

just turned twenty

(3)

: to become someone or something specified by change from another state : change into

turn pro

doctors turned authors

(4)

: to change by the passage of time

days turned into weeks and months

6

: to become curved or bent (as from pressure)

especially : to become blunted by bending

the edge of the knife had turned

7

: to operate a lathe

8

of merchandise : to be stocked and disposed of : change hands

turnable

ˈtər-nə-bəl 

adjective

turn

2 of 2

noun

plural turns

1

a

: the action or an act of turning about a center or axis : revolution, rotation

b

: any of various rotating or pivoting movements in dancing or gymnastics

2

a

: the action or an act of giving or taking a different direction : change of course or posture

an illegal left turn

: such as

(1)

: a drill maneuver in which troops in mass formation change direction without preserving alignment

(2)

: any of various shifts of direction in skiing

(3)

: an interruption of a curve in figure skating

b

: a place at which something turns, turns off, or turns back : bend, curve

c

: deflection, deviation

d

: the action or an act of turning so as to face in the opposite direction : reversal of posture or course

an about turn

the turn of the tide

e

: a change effected by turning over to another side

a turn of the cards

3

: an act or deed affecting another especially when incidental or unexpected

one good turn deserves another

4

a

: a place, time, or opportunity accorded an individual or unit of a series in simple succession or in a scheduled order

waiting her turn in line

see also take turns

b

: a period of action or activity : go, spell

took a turn at the piano

c

: a period or tour of duty : shift

d

: a short act or piece (as for a variety show)

also : public appearance : performance

makes frequent guest star turns

e(1)

: an event in any gambling game after which bets are settled

(2)

: the order of the last three cards in faro

—used in the phrase call the turn

5

a

: an act of changing : alteration, modification

a nasty turn in the weather

b

: a change in tendency, trend, or drift

hoped for a turn in his luck

a turn for the better

an unexpected turn of events

c

: the beginning of a new period of time : the time when one period changes to the next

the turn of the century

6

a

: a fashioning of language or arrangement of words : manner of expression

skillful turns of phrase

b

: distinctive quality or character

c

: the shape or mold in which something is fashioned : cast

7

: a short trip out and back or round about

took a turn through the park

8

: something that revolves around a center: such as

a(1)

: lathe

(2)

: a catch or latch for a cupboard or cabinet door operated by turning a handle

b

: a musical ornament consisting of a group of four or more notes that wind about the principal note by including the notes next above and next below

9

: a special purpose or requirement

—used chiefly in the phrase serve one's turn

10

a

: the state or manner of being coiled or twisted

b

: a single round (as of rope passed about an object or of wire wound on a core)

11

: natural or special ability or aptitude : bent, inclination

a turn for logic

an optimistic turn of mind

12

: a special twist, construction, or interpretation

gave the old yarn a new turn

13

a

: a disordering spell or attack (as of illness, faintness, or dizziness)

b

: a nervous start or shock

snuck up on her and gave her quite a turn

14

a

: a complete transaction involving a purchase and sale of securities

also : a profit from such a transaction

b

: turnover sense 1a

15

: something turned or to be turned: such as

a

: a character or slug inverted in setting type

b

: a piece of type placed bottom up

Phrases

turn a blind eye

: to refuse to see : be oblivious

might turn a blind eye to the use of violence

—Arthur Krock

turn a deaf ear

: to refuse to listen

turn a hair

: to give a sign of distress or disturbance

did not turn a hair when told of the savage murder

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

turn color

1

: to become of a different color

2

a

: blush, flush

b

: to grow pale

turn heads

: to attract favorable attention

the car's sleek design is bound to turn heads

turn loose

1

a

: to set free

turned loose the captured animal

b

: to free from all restraints

turned them loose with a pile of theme paper to write whatever they liked

—Elizabeth P. Schafer

2

: to fire off : discharge

3

: to open fire

turn one's back on

1

: reject, deny

would be turning one's back on history

—Pius Walsh

2

: forsake

turned his back on his obligations

turn one's hand or turn a hand

: to set to work : apply oneself

turn one's head

: to cause to become infatuated or conceited

success had not turned his head

turn one's stomach

: to disgust completely : nauseate

the foul smell turned his stomach

turn tail

: to turn away so as to flee

turn the other cheek

: to respond to injury or unkindness with patience : forgo retaliation

turn the tables

: to bring about a reversal of the relative conditions or fortunes of two contending parties

turn the trick

: to bring about the desired result or effect

turn turtle

: capsize, overturn

at every turn

: on every occasion : continually

they opposed her at every turn

by turns

1

: one after another in regular succession

2

: variously, alternately

a book that is by turns pedantic, delightful, and infuriating

in turn

: in due order of succession

on the turn

: at the point of turning

tide is on the turn

out of turn

1

: not in due order of succession

play out of turn

2

: at a wrong time or place and usually imprudently

talking out of turn

to a turn

: to perfection

Synonyms

Verb

• pivot
• revolve
• roll
• rotate
• spin
• swing
• swirl
• swivel
• twirl
• twist
• wheel
• whirl

Noun

• amble
• constitutional
• perambulation
• ramble
• range
• saunter
• stroll
• walk
• wander

Examples of turn in a Sentence

Verb

He turned the key and opened the door.

She slowly turned the doorknob.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left.

Someone turned the switch and the lights came on.

They turned and walked away.

She turned to leave—but stopped.

He turned aside to let me pass.

The patient turned onto his side.

The photographer asked her to turn slightly to her left.

He turned himself around to see the back of his shirt in the mirror.

Noun

You have to wait your turn in line.

Is it my turn yet?

Give the wheel another turn.

He tightened the screw with one last turn.

With a turn of the switch, the lights came back on.

Take a left-hand turn at the next intersection.

a quick turn of her head

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But the celebration turned gruesome this autumn when one of the male contestants killed a female contestant. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024

Figure out how to turn it into a monthly package that clients are keen to commit to. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Noun

Nonprofits, in turn, receive critical hands-on support and increase their visibility. —Matt Nash, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Scrapes take longer to heal A lack of vitamin C slows down collagen production—and, in turn, wound healing. —Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English turnen, tornen, in part going back to Old English tyrnan, turnian "to move round on an axis, come round cyclically, cause to move about an axis, shift position," borrowed from early Medieval Latin tornāre, going back to Latin, "to make round by turning on a lathe," derivative of tornus "lathe," borrowed from Greek tórnos "peg and string used to trace circles, central point, lathe"; in part borrowed from Anglo-French turner, torner, tourner (also continental Old French), going back to early Medieval Latin tornāre; Greek tórnos going back to Indo-European *torh₁-n-o, derivative of the verbal base *ter_h1- "rub, bore" — more at trite

Note: The Latin etymon was loaned into Old English as both a Class 1 and Class 2 weak verb; for details of forms see the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition. In the sequence *torh₁-n-o- the loss of the laryngeal is apparently regular in the environment -VRHnV-.

Noun

Middle English turn, tourn, torn, borrowed from Anglo-French tur, tour, turn, tourn (continental Old French turn, tur), derivative of turner, torner "to turn entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing turn

• about-turn
• ampere-turn
• at every turn
• beat/turn swords into plowshares
• come/turn up trumps
• done to a turn
• earn/turn an honest penny
• in turn
• kick turn
• make someone's stomach turn
• not turn a hair
• one good turn deserves another
• on the turn
• out of turn
• spin/turn on one's heel
• star turn
• stem turn
• step turn
• take a turn
• take a turn for the worse
• take a turn for the worse/better
• take a wrong turn
• taken a turn for the better
• the turn of the century
• three-point turn
• to a turn
• toss and turn
• turn a blind eye
• turn against
• turn around
• turn around and (do something)
• turn away
• turn back
• turn back the clock
• turn-based
• turn down
• turn in
• turn king's evidence
• turn of events
• turn off
• turn of mind
• turn of phrase
• turn of speed
• turn on
• turn one's back
• turn one's hand to
• turn one's mind to
• turn one's nose up
• turn on the waterworks
• turn out
• turn out like (someone or something)
• turn out to be (something)
• turn over
• turn over a new leaf
• turn over to
• turn pro
• turn Queen's evidence
• turn round
• turn round and (do something)
• turn signal
• turn (someone) on to (something)
• turn someone's stomach
• turn (something) inside out
• turn (something) over in one's mind
• turn (something) to (good) account
• turn (something) upside down
• turn state's evidence
• turn the corner
• turn to
• turn traitor
• turn tricks
• turn up
• turn up one's nose
• turn upon (something)
• twist and turn
• twist/turn the knife (in the wound)
• U-turn
• wait one's turn

Kids Definition

turn

1 of 2 verb

ˈtərn 

1

a

: to move or cause to move around an axis or center : rotate, revolve

wheels turning slowly

turn a crank

b

: to bring about a desired end by using a control

turned the volume down

c

: to do by revolving

turn handsprings

d

: to twist out of line or shape : wrench

turn an ankle

2

a

: to change in position usually by moving through an arc of a circle

they turned and walked away

turn the page

turn a pancake

b

: to examine as if by turning over : think about

turned the problem over in her mind

3

: to make over (as a garment) by reversing the material and sewing back together

turn a collar

4

a

: to upset the order of

everything was turned topsy-turvy

b

: to set in another and especially opposite direction

5

a

: to change course or direction

the road turns to the left

turning to a different subject

b

: to go around

turn a corner

6

: to direct toward or away from something

we turned toward home

7

: to seek out as a source of something

turn to a friend for help

8

a

: to change or cause to change

water turned to ice

the witch turned the prince into a frog

b

: to cause to spoil : sour

the milk had turned

c

: to change in color

leaves turning in the fall

d

: to pass from one state to another : become

hair turned gray

had just turned fourteen

9

: translate sense 3a

10

: to give a rounded form to (as on a lathe)

turn

2 of 2 noun

1

: the action or an act of turning about a center

2

a

: a change or changing of direction, course, or position

a left turn

the turn of the tide

b

: a place where something turns

at the turn of the road

c

: a change or changing of general state or condition

took a turn for the better

a turn in the weather

3

: a short walk or ride

took a turn through the park

4

: an act affecting another

one good turn deserves another

5

a

: a period of action or activity : spell

a turn as guard

b

: proper place in a waiting line or time in a schedule

wait your turn

6

: a special purpose

that will serve the turn

7

a

: special quality

a neat turn of phrase

b

: the shape or form in which something is molded : cast

an odd turn of mind

8

: a single circle or loop (as of rope passed around an object)

9

: natural or special skill

a turn for languages

Medical Definition

turn

transitive verb

ˈtərn 

: to injure by twisting or wrenching

turned his ankle

Legal Definition

turn

intransitive verb

: to have a specified decisive factor

—used with on

the first of the cases…turned on first amendment issues

—K. A. Cohen