1
2
as in to swing
to change the course or direction of (something)
the dog turned the stampeding flock of sheep around he turned his cart uphill
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
5
as in to revolve
to move in circles around an axis or center
the wheels turned, but the car was hopelessly stuck and wasn't moving
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to ponder
to give serious and careful thought to
turned the question every which way but could find no answer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
1
as in walk
a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure
would you care to take a turn around the garden?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance
one good turn deserves another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
an adventurous turn of mind that led him toward more physical activities like biking and skateboarding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bend
something that curves or is curved
right after this turn in the road you'll find the antiques shop on the right
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in bout
a sudden experiencing of a physical or mental disorder
a sudden turn of dizziness that may have been brought on by a change in her medication
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turn
Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
The center of Hurricane Erin is expected to continue turning northeast and track over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda into early Friday.
—David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The 73-year-old has garnered favor from Trump during his tenure in the White House and, in turn, has earned her support.
—Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn
Verb
During the early 1960s, after acquiring Universal, Lew turned MCA into the industry’s most powerful company and introduced bold new ways of doing business.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
The center of Hurricane Erin is expected to continue turning northeast and track over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda into early Friday.
—David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Stanford at Hawaii 7:30 p.m. on CBS What a disastrous turn of the decade for Stanford — a 16-38 record since 2020.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The 73-year-old has garnered favor from Trump during his tenure in the White House and, in turn, has earned her support.
—Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turn
Verb
-
The 90-seat Darling will offer up 12 dishes to its patrons, rotating each month depending on what produce, seafood, and meats are the freshest.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Summer school, too, was treated as an intervention program, with students rotating through three instructors who each focused on a narrower literacy lesson, Williams said.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Kate Middleton and Emily Ratajkowski have also been spotted in them, which speaks volumes—these sneakers can swing from royalty to off-duty supermodels without missing a beat.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Peto raised its full-year earnings outlook and swung to a profit in its latest quarter.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the researchers thought the Neanderthals deviated away from our evolutionary line about 1.38 million years ago.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Which is why Mahomes played all of 48 seconds in the first two irrelevant games as Reid deviated from his customary inclination to play him most in the second-to-last rehearsal.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As houses of worship become the sites for such crimes and other sociocultural unrest, their traditional roles as places of refuge risk erosion.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Every time a criminal case is finalized, records become releasable under Idaho’s Public Records Act, with a few exceptions.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With Tesla, the story always revolves heavily around CEO Elon Musk.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
-
Added to that, the fashion industry is highly volatile with a growing demand for speed in deliveries, constantly revolving collections and diversification of product offerings.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
Journal, ponder on a walk or seek out listening from a career coach.—
Cara Heilmann,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Sorrentino’s script cleverly ponders the difference between the truth absorbed up close and the law, which is viewed from a distance.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Two decades later, how Katrina has redefined New Orleans often depends where in the city one asks.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Its flavor and heat level vary depending on the type and number of chiles used, but a little goes a long way.—
CAROLE KOTKIN,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Performed from a third-person perspective, the perspective of the blues, Nourished by Time spins an old-fashioned yarn about a man working a restaurant job and writing ballads at night.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Harry Jowsey spun his notoriety into 5M TikTok followers, a Spotify podcast, and a skincare brand.—
Amanda Marcovitch,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turn. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share