turn back
verb
turned back; turning back; turns back
1
a
: to go in the reverse direction
b
: to stop going forward
2
: to refer to an earlier time or place
1
: to drive back or away
2
: to stop the advance of
3
: to fold back
see also turn back the clock
Examples of turn back in a Sentence
a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire
Recent Examples on the Web
Simon said that Moore was taken to a local hospital after his arrest for mental health evaluation, but was not admitted to the hospital and instead turned back over to law enforcement.
—
Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Rather than simply turning back the clock, though, brands like Tory Burch, Versace, Ferragamo, Chanel, and LaQuan Smith are updating the look for a new century with louche shapes and sprays of beads.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
For around 15 minutes, the doors were closed and caused more and more people to gather in the waiting area with no way for the people in front to open the doors or turn back.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
The group collectively shrugged and turned back to the business of smoking fentanyl.
—David Sedaris, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Rather than simply turning back the clock, though, brands like Tory Burch, Versace, Ferragamo, Chanel, and LaQuan Smith are updating the look for a new century with louche shapes and sprays of beads.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025
For around 15 minutes, the doors were closed and caused more and more people to gather in the waiting area with no way for the people in front to open the doors or turn back.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
The group collectively shrugged and turned back to the business of smoking fentanyl.
—David Sedaris, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn back
Cite this Entry
“Turn back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20back. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.
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