verb

turn

verb

To move or rotate around an axis, or to change direction.

"Turn left at the next intersection."

"The dancer turned gracefully in a full circle."

To become or change into something else.

"The leaves turn red and gold in October."

"Milk turns sour if it's left out too long."

noun

A person's chance or opportunity in a sequence, such as in a game or rota.

"Wait your turn before you speak."

"It's finally my turn to pick the movie."

A change in direction or course.

"The car made a sharp turn to avoid the pothole."

How to Use Turn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe basic idea is changing direction or state — physically rotating, changing into something different, or taking your allotted moment in a sequence.

Common pairings

take turns turn around turn into in turn

Word Forms

turned past tense, turnt past tense, turn plural, turned plural, turns plural, turns singular, turn singular, turned singular, turnest singular, turnedst singular, turneth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “turn” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ left at the next intersection.

Etymology

From Old English turnian and Old French torner, both ultimately from Latin tornare, "to round off on a lathe," from tornus, "lathe."

Synonyms

View more →

lathe complete 360° turn complete rotation complete turn full rotation full turn

Related Words

accomplish achieve complete end full start lathe entire

Rhymes for turn

urn burn churn mourn spurn auburn Saturn return Coburn adjourn sunburn Hepburn

See all rhymes for turn →

People Also Searched

lathe complete 360° turn complete rotation complete turn full rotation full turn accomplish achieve end full start