turning
7 synonyms for turning, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A change in direction; a bend or curve in a road or path.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
turn-off
How to use turning
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
take a turning
miss the turning
wood turning
Etymology
From Old English tyrning, built from turn plus the "-ing" ending that makes a noun out of an action.
Full origin of turning →Frequently asked questions
What does “turning” mean?
The word “turning” means a change in direction; a bend or curve in a road or path. In plain terms, a place where a road changes direction, or the craft of shaping material by spinning it on a lathe.
How do you pronounce “turning”?
“Turning” is pronounced TUR-nihng (/ˈtɝ.nɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “turning” in a sentence?
Here is “turning” used in a sentence: “Take the next turning on the left.”
What part of speech is “turning”?
“Turning” is a noun.
Where does the word “turning” come from?
The word “turning” comes from Old English. From Old English tyrning, built from turn plus the "-ing" ending that makes a noun out of an action.
Is “turning” a common word?
“Turning” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “turning” have?
“Turning” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a change in direction; a bend or curve in a road or path.
What is the difference between a turning and a junction?
A turning is simply a point where a road bends or where you can change direction, such as a side road leading off a main one. A junction is where two or more roads meet and traffic can move between them. Every junction offers a turning, but a gentle bend in the road is a turning without being a junction.
What is a turning point?
A turning point is the figurative use of turning: a moment when a situation changes direction decisively, marking a shift from one course to another. A job offer, a diagnosis, or a key battle can all be turning points. The image comes from a physical turning in a road, applied to the path of events.
What is an example of a turning?
In British usage you might be told to "take the second turning on the left," meaning the second side road or bend where you can change direction. A turning can be a junction, a driveway, or simply a curve in the route, any point where the path changes the way it heads.
