twist
twihst
Twist (verb) means to turn or bend something, often forcefully, so it becomes distorted or wound. Example: “Twist the two halves of the biscuit apart to reveal the cream.”
verb
1
To turn or bend something, often forcefully, so it becomes distorted or wound.
"Twist the two halves of the biscuit apart to reveal the cream."
"He twisted the cap off the bottle."
"She twisted her ankle stepping off the curb."
2
To distort the meaning of something said or written.
"Don't twist what I said, because that is not what I meant."
"Politicians often complain that newspapers twist their comments out of context."
"The reporter twisted his words to make a better headline."
noun
1
An unexpected turn or development in a story or situation.
"The story took a strange twist when the missing letter finally appeared."
"There was an unexpected twist at the end of the quiz night."
"The movie's final twist caught everyone off guard."
How to use twist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn or bend something out of its normal shape, or an unexpected turn in a story.
Common pairings
plot twist
twist your ankle
twist the truth
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- twists
- Past tense
- twisted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the two halves of the biscuit apart to reveal the cream.
Etymology
From Old English twist, related to an old Germanic root for "two," describing something formed by winding two strands together.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
untwist
Related words
Rhymes for twist
See all rhymes for twist →Frequently asked questions
What does “twist” mean?
The word “twist” means to turn or bend something, often forcefully, so it becomes distorted or wound. In plain terms, to turn or bend something out of its normal shape, or an unexpected turn in a story.
How do you pronounce “twist”?
“Twist” is pronounced twihst (/twɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “twist” in a sentence?
Here is “twist” used in a sentence: “He twisted the cap off the bottle.”
What part of speech is “twist”?
Depending on how it is used, “twist” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “twist” come from?
The word “twist” comes from Old English. From Old English twist, related to an old Germanic root for "two," describing something formed by winding two strands together.
Is “twist” a common word?
“Twist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “twist” have?
“Twist” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to turn or bend something, often forcefully, so it becomes distorted or wound.
What is the difference between 'twist' and 'turn'?
To 'turn' is simply to change direction or rotate, while to 'twist' means to turn or bend something, often forcefully, so that it becomes wound, coiled, or distorted. A twist usually implies more force or a spiralling motion than a plain turn.
What is a 'plot twist'?
A 'plot twist' is a common collocation for an unexpected change in the direction of a story. It draws on the figurative idea of twisting, meaning to bend or distort the expected course of events into something surprising.
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