turn
Third Person
turns
Present Participle
turning
Past Tense
turned
Past Participle
turned
1
to rotate something so that it is facing a different direction or is in a different position
transitive
- He turned the vase to display the flowers from a different angle.
- He turned the bicycle handlebars to the right.
- I turned the chair to its side to fit it through the narrow doorway.
- The scientist turned the microscope toward the specimen.
Synonyms:
2
to rotate or shift our body to face a different direction
- He turned to face the door as someone entered.
- I turned to face the mirror and adjusted my tie.
- He turned and waved goodbye before leaving.
- They turned and walked in the opposite direction.
- When I heard a noise behind me, I quickly turned to look.
3
to carefully pour or transfer the contents from an upside-down container into another surface or container
transitive
- Turn the cake batter into a baking pan.
- After kneading the dough, turn it onto a floured surface.
- Turn the scrambled eggs onto a warm plate.
- She turned the sauce from the pot into a serving dish.
- Turn the melted chocolate onto a parchment paper-lined tray.
Synonyms:
4
to shift or redirect one's course or path to face a different direction or follow a new route
- He turned left at the intersection to head toward the park.
- After reaching the dead-end street, they had no choice but to turn around.
- The cyclist needed to turn sharply to avoid colliding with the oncoming car.
- As the road split, he had to make a quick decision on which way to turn.
- She turned off the highway and onto a scenic route through the countryside.
5
(of one's attention or interest) to shift or focus on a particular subject, matter, or idea
transitive
- When he mentioned her name, her thoughts turned to their last meeting.
- During the lecture, my mind often turned to my upcoming vacation.
- As the movie unfolded, my attention turned to the suspenseful plot.
6
to reach a certain age
- She'll turn 40 next spring.
- I turned 20 last week, and it feels like a milestone.
- He turns 50 this month, and we're throwing a surprise party.
- They turned 16 and got their driver's license.
- She'll turn 35 in December, and we're planning a special trip.
7
to change or transform from one state or condition to another
- The meeting turned chaotic when opposing viewpoints clashed.
- The once clear water in the pond turned murky after the heavy rain.
- Jake turned vegan after watching a documentary.
- As they watched the sunset, the atmosphere turned romantic.
- His mood suddenly turned gloomy after the bad news.
Synonyms:
8
to skillfully and artistically shape or craft something, like a tune, sentence, or remark, to give it an elegant and graceful form
transitive
- He knows how to turn a tune, creating beautiful melodies.
- The author has a knack for turning phrases that resonate with readers.
- The politician's ability to turn a phrase has earned him a reputation as an effective communicator.
- If I could turn a tune like her, I'd sing at every opportunity.
- Her ability to turn a witty remark is impressive.
9
to shape or mold an object or material by bending or manipulating it
transitive
- The trees were turning their branches in the wind.
- She skillfully turned the wire, shaping a graceful sculpture.
- With her hands, she turned the clay, molding a beautiful vase.
10
to successfully achieve or accomplish a task or goal
transitive
- He turned a flawless performance at the piano recital.
- The batter turned a double play.
- With his skills, he turned a challenging project to success.
- The runner turned a home run.
- The soccer player turned a hat-trick in the championship game.
11
to cause someone or something to leave where they are or be placed in a particular condition
- The principal turned the rowdy students loose in the gymnasium.
- The vet turned the rescued animals loose in the sanctuary.
- There are some animals that cannot be turned loose in the wild.
- The farmer turned the cows out to pasture.
- The zookeeper turned the lion into its enclosure.
12
(of merchandise) to be bought or sold, often within a commercial or retail setting
- The new smartphones turned quickly at the electronics store.
- The holiday decorations turned as December approached.
- During the sale, the discounted items turned rapidly.
- The popular toys turned over quickly during the holiday season.
- The limited-edition collectibles turned faster than expected.
13
to cause a change in the course of a competition or war, resulting in a different person, team, or side beginning to win or gain an advantage
transitive
- His last-minute goal turned the match in favor of our team.
- The underdog team turned the championship with their incredible performance.
- The decisive penalty kick turned the outcome of the championship game.
- The unexpected alliance turned the balance of power in the negotiations.
- The clever strategy turned the war, catching the enemy off guard.
Synonyms:
14
to exchange, convert, or alter the functioning of something
transitive
- Turn the thermostat to 72 degrees.
- Turn the heater to its highest setting.
- They turned the fan to a faster speed.