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

Kobayashi’s phone’s was last turned on at LAX on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. and hasn’t been turned back on since. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

In White House comments, President Joe Biden said the deal would allow his Middle East team to turn back to securing an elusive ceasefire deal in Gaza. —Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Nov. 2024

Obviously, the reflex to bring this style of makeup back is part of a widespread yearning to turn back the clock, which is understandable for people my age (in their 30s) and and little younger. —Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 25 Nov. 2024

The Quincy Stop and Shop round-trip train departs goes from Coldwater and makes a half-hour layover in Quincy before turning back. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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