Synonyms of turns

turns 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of turn

1

as in rotates

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis

turned the doorknob as quietly as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotates
• twirls
• spins
• twists
• swings
• swivels
• swirls
• pivots
• whirls
• revolves
• rolls
• wheels
• screws
• winds
• unscrews
• coils
• cranks
• circulates
• reels
• twiddles

2

as in swings

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

• swings
• whips
• diverts
• veers
• deflects
• shifts
• moves
• redirects
• wheels
• whirls
• switches
• deviates
• swivels
• averts
• twists
• swerves
• reverses
• shunts
• zigzags
• sways
• turns back
• bends
• curves
• transfers
• sidetracks
• rechannels

3

as in deviates

to change one's course or direction

we turned left at the light

the storm unexpectedly turned south and missed our area

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deviates
• veers
• swings
• diverges
• detours
• swerves
• turns off
• wheels
• zigzags
• turns back
• tacks
• sheers
• doubles (back)

4

as in becomes

to eventually have as a state or quality

will turn 12 in six months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• becomes
• grows
• gets
• goes
• comes
• runs
• transforms
• waxes
• modifies
• alters
• changes
• transmutes
• mutates
• transfigures
• metamorphoses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• is
• continues
• remains
• stays
• lingers
• abides

5

as in revolves

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

• rotates
• revolves
• spins
• twirls
• whirls
• rolls
• gyrates
• curls
• circles
• wheels
• curves
• twists
• pirouettes
• spirals
• swirls
• coils
• winds
• pivots
• rounds
• pinwheels
• rings
• circulates
• encircles
• swivels
• twines
• orbits

6

as in ponders

to give serious and careful thought to

turned the question every which way but could find no answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ponders
• contemplates
• entertains
• considers
• debates
• weighs
• eyes
• explores
• analyzes
• studies
• deliberates
• ruminates
• looks at
• questions
• revolves
• meditates
• chews on
• reviews
• cogitates
• mulls (over)
• thinks (about or over)
• wrestles (with)
• chews over
• pores (over)
• perpends
• beats one's brains out (about)
• reflects (on or upon)
• cudgels one's brains (about)
• digests
• reminisces
• believes
• muses (upon)
• kicks around
• opines
• concludes
• conceives
• absorbs
• dwells (on or upon)
• assimilates
• reasons
• speculates (about)
• fixates (on or upon)
• broods (about or over)
• frets (about or over)
• second-guesses
• drinks (in)
• obsesses (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignores
• disregards
• overlooks
• rejects
• dismisses
• slights
• pooh-poohs

7

as in depends

to be determined by, based on, or subject (to)

what we do next turns on your answer to the following question

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depends
• hangs
• rides
• hinges
• rests
• establishes
• stays
• founds
• bases
• grounds

8

as in spins

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around

all the new information made his head turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spins
• swims
• reels
• whirls
• swirls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collects
• calms
• settles
• steadies

9

as in convinces

to cause to have often negative opinions formed without sufficient knowledge

he did his best to turn his new friends against his ex-wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

• convinces
• persuades
• biases
• prejudices
• disposes
• predisposes
• influences
• inclines
• poisons
• suggests
• prepossesses

turns

2 of 2

noun

plural of turn

1

as in walks

a relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure

would you care to take a turn around the garden?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• walks
• strolls
• wanders
• trips
• rambles
• saunters
• ambles
• tours
• perambulations
• marches
• traverses
• travels
• parades
• spins
• ranges
• constitutionals
• promenades
• hikes
• treks
• excursions
• progresses
• expeditions
• traipses
• sashays
• tramps
• jaunts
• peregrinations
• traversals
• sallies
• outings
• junkets
• paseos
• pilgrimages
• walkabouts
• safaris

2

as in services

an act of kind assistance

one good turn deserves another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• services
• graces
• mercies
• favors
• privileges
• courtesies
• benevolences
• benefits
• indulgences
• advantages
• boons
• waivers
• dispensations
• mannas
• blessings
• liberties
• godsends
• licenses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obstacles
• impediments
• hurdles
• interferences
• hindrances

3

as in tendencies

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

• tendencies
• inclinations
• aptitudes
• affinities
• affections
• devices
• impulses
• biases
• bones
• dispositions
• leanings
• proclivities
• bents
• talents
• predispositions
• predilections
• knacks
• gifts
• propensities
• appetites
• penchants
• addictions
• preferences
• favors
• likes
• geniuses
• tastes
• prejudices
• partialities
• flairs
• habitudes
• fancies
• partisanships
• habits
• endowments
• practices
• patterns
• tricks
• quirks
• faculties
• idiosyncrasies
• ways
• singularities
• specialties
• eccentricities
• kinks
• likings
• customs
• routines
• wonts
• conventions
• peculiarities
• specialities
• oddities
• fortes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dislikes
• allergies
• distastes
• disinclinations
• disrelishes
• disfavors
• aversions
• detachments
• indifferences
• impartialities
• neutralities
• objectivities
• nonchalances
• apathies
• insouciances

4

as in bends

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

• bends
• curves
• curvatures
• angles
• winds
• folds
• bows
• crooks
• arches
• twists
• arcs
• slopes
• curls
• inflections
• corners
• windings
• warps
• rings
• coils
• spirals
• loops
• circles
• swirls
• rounds
• inclines
• reflections
• buckles
• ringlets
• kinks
• convolutions
• curlicues
• flexures
• declines
• inclinations
• hairpins
• incurvatures
• turnoffs
• doglegs

5

as in bouts

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

• bouts
• attacks
• cases
• spells
• seizures
• accesses
• fits
• pangs
• sieges
• spasms
• relapses
• collapses
• throes
• breakdowns
• convulsions
• recurrences
• frenzies
• paroxysms
• agitations
• brainstorms
• prostrations
• eclampsias

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrests
• reliefs
• remissions

6

as in acts

a performance regularly presented by an individual or group

between the show's two major musical acts, there was a short turn by a juggling troupe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acts
• numbers
• routines
• bits
• shticks
• signatures

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of turns

Verb

If industrial demand keeps softening and the Fed turns hawkish, $70 is on the table. —Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 28 May 2026

Williams, who turns 46 next month, was a singles wild-card entry at the Australian Open. —ABC News, 28 May 2026

Nacua, who turns 25 on Friday, has made headlines for the wrong reasons dating to the end of the regular season. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi. —Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

Convenience turns that energy into behavior. —Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Their faux relationship turns into a real romance that’s steamy enough to melt the ice. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 May 2026

Another turns downtown into Taste of Black Harrisburg, with food vendors, live mural painting, music, comedy, and chef demonstrations taking over the block. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026

Route 66, or the Mother Road as John Steinbeck called it in The Grapes of Wrath, turns 100 this year. —Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 14 May 2026

Noun

Though Lauer’s career has taken twists and turns since, those were formative years. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

For example, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has said that workers who stay flexible through career twists and turns are often best positioned to grow. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Charles Cioffi, a prolific character actor in TV, film and the Broadway stage perhaps best known for memorable turns as Tom Cruise’s blue-collar dad in All the Right Moves and a sadistic killer stalking Jane Fonda in Klute, died May 22 of natural causes at his home in Marina del Rey, California. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 May 2026

Much of the film’s success, however, derives not from the twists and turns of plot but from simply situating the viewer in the disquieting vibe of this bizarre place. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026

Have good guys fighting bad guys, suspense, drama, action, a few twists and turns and make the sole goal to give viewers something enjoyable. —David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

Using a spatula, gently fold the ingredients together for a few turns. —Kate Bradshaw, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026

The latest development marks one of the most significant turns yet in the investigation into Lynette Hooker's disappearance, raising new questions about Brian Hooker's account of what happened on April 4, the night his wife vanished. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 27 May 2026

The vertical walls and hazardous turns of Beggar’s Canyon served as a childhood proving ground for Luke Skywalker. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 26 May 2026