turn

noun countable

UK /tɜː(r)n/

Word Forms

singular	turn
plural	turns

1
someone’s turn is the time when they can or must do something, because they are with other people who are each doing the same activity one after the other
You’ve already moved your piece – it’s my turn now.
someone’s turn to do something:
I’m sure it’s your turn to wash the dishes.
wait your turn (=be patient until it is your turn):
You’ll just have to wait your turn like everyone else.
Synonyms and related words
General words for actions and activities
action
measure
doings
1. 1a
  linguisticsthe time when someone is speaking in a conversation
  We have different ways of indicating that a turn will be changed.
  Synonyms and related words
  The process of communication
  communication
  interaction
  contact
2
a change of direction made by a person or vehicle
He made a left turn into a quiet street.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
swirl
1. 2a
  a place where a road bends to the right or left
  There’s a very sharp turn at the end of the road.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of roads and road systems
  bend
  black spot
  bus lane
2. 2b
  mainly Americana turning
  Synonyms and related words
  Types of road or path
  a one-way/two-way street
  approach
  A-road
3
a movement in a circle made by an object
He gave the tap one more firm turn.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
swirl
4
a change in a situation
The argument over drugs in sport took an unexpected turn yesterday.
take a turn for the better/worse (=become better/worse):
The weather suddenly took a turn for the worse.
turn of events (=an unexpected change in a situation):
We wanted to express our shock at today’s tragic turn of events.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
effect
change
trend
5
a short performance consisting of a song, a piece of music, a series of jokes etc as part of a set of performances
I’m going to do a turn at the concert next week.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of performances
bill
curtain call
encore
6
old-fashioneda short walk taken for pleasure
Synonyms and related words
Walks
walk
trek
stroll
7
Britishinformal old-fashionedan occasion when you suddenly feel ill or very weak
I think she’s having one of her turns.
give someone a turn (=to frighten someone so that they feel ill):
You gave her quite a turn, suddenly appearing like that!
Synonyms and related words
Periods of bad health
illness
bout
attack

phrases

at every turn

by turns

done/cooked to a turn

a good/bad turn

in turn

one good turn deserves another

on the turn

speak/talk out of turn

take turns

the turn of the century/year

turn of mind

turn of phrase

turn of speed

turn

noun countable

US /tɜrn/

Word Forms

singular	turn
plural	turns

1
someone’s turn is the time when they can or must do something, because they are with other people who are each doing the same activity one after the other
You’ve already moved your piece – it’s my turn now.
someone’s turn to do something:
I’m sure it’s your turn to wash the dishes.
wait your turn (=be patient until it is your turn):
You’ll just have to wait your turn like everyone else.
take a turn (at) doing something:
Would you like me to take a turn carrying the suitcase?
Synonyms and related words
General words for actions and activities
action
thing
operation
1. 1a
  linguisticsthe time when someone is speaking in a conversation
  We have different ways of indicating that a turn will be changed.
  Synonyms and related words
  The process of communication
  communication
  interaction
  contact
2
a change of direction made by a person or vehicle
He made a left turn onto a quiet street.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
about-face
1. 2a
  a place where a road bends to the right or left
  There’s a very sharp turn at the end of the road.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of roads and road systems
  bend
  bicycle lane
  bike lane
2. 2b
  a place where another road leads away from the one you are going along
  They took a wrong turn on the outskirts of town and ran into a police roadblock.
  Synonyms and related words
  Types of road or path
  a one-way/two-way street
  approach
  artery
3
a movement in a circle made by an object
He gave the faucet one more firm turn.
Synonyms and related words
Circular and turning movements and about-turns
turn
spin
about-face
4
a change in a situation
The argument over drugs in athletics took an unexpected turn yesterday.
take a turn for the better/worse (=become better/worse):
The weather suddenly took a turn for the worse.
The spokesman said the situation in Sarajevo had taken a dramatic turn for the better.
turn of events (=an unexpected change in a situation):
We wanted to express our shock at today’s tragic turn of events.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
change
effect
trend
5
old-fashioneda short walk taken for pleasure
Synonyms and related words
Walks
walk
trek
stroll
6
a short performance consisting of a song, a piece of music, a series of jokes, etc. as part of a set of performances
I’m going to do a turn at the variety show next week.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of performances
bill
curtain call
encore

phrases

at every turn

by turns

done/cooked to a turn

a good/bad turn

in turn

one good turn deserves another

on the turn

speak/talk out of turn

take turns

the turn of the century

turn of mind

turn of phrase

turn

verb

UK /tɜː(r)n/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	turn
he/she/it	turns
present participle	turning
past tense	turned
past participle	turned

1
intransitive/transitive to change the position of your body or head so that you are facing in a different direction
She turned and smiled at me.
He turned his head and looked around the room.
turn to:
Maria turned to the reporters and said: ‘I’m innocent.’
turn away:
Lopez just glared at the other man and then turned away.
turn around/round:
The girls in front turned round and grinned.
turn to do something:
The whole audience turned to stare at the latecomers.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
1. 1a
  transitive to change the position of something so that it is pointing in a different direction
  turn something around/round:
  Turn your chairs round so you’re facing me.
  turn something on someone/something:
  The attacker killed three people before turning the gun on himself.
  turn something over:
  Turn the tape over and press ‘Play’.
  Synonyms and related words
  To change position
  turn
  spin
  overturn
2
intransitive to change the direction in which you are moving or travelling
turn around/towards/into etc:
We turned into our drive, glad to get home.
The truck turned around and came back towards us.
turn left/right:
Follow this path; then turn right and walk uphill.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something away or back
back away
draw back
part
1. 2a
  transitive to make something change the direction in which it is moving
  turn something around/towards/into etc:
  He turned the car in the direction of the city.
  They ordered the pilot to turn the plane around.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move, or to move something away or back
  back away
  draw back
  part
2. 2b
  intransitive if a road or river turns, it bends and goes in a different direction
  Here the road turns sharply to the right.
  Synonyms and related words
  What roads, paths and areas of land do
  ascend
  bend
  bifurcate
3. 2c
  intransitive if the tide turns, it moves in the opposite direction
  Synonyms and related words
  What liquids can do
  break
  burst
  cast up
3
intransitive to make a circular movement
I heard the key turn in the lock.
Synonyms and related words
To move in circles or twists
spin
revolve
whirl
1. 3a
  transitive to make something move in a circle
  Turning this wheel will start the machine.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move in circles or twists
  spin
  revolve
  whirl
4
transitive if you turn the page of a book or magazine, you move it in order to read a different page
Synonyms and related words
To read something quickly
glance
skim
flick through
5
linking verb to change and do or become something else
turn professional:
Duval turned professional in 1993.
turn cold/chilly:
The weather turned quite chilly in the afternoon.
Synonyms and related words
To become different
change
turn into
change into
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
1. 5a
  to change and become another colour
  The leaves turn bright red in autumn.
  Synonyms and related words
  To become a different colour
  blacken
  bleach
  bleed
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
6
linking verb to become a particular age or a particular time
He turned 40 in March.
It’s just turned midnight.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
7
intransitive/transitive if your stomach turns, or if something turns your stomach, you feel as if food in your stomach is going to come out through your mouth
Synonyms and related words
Feeling sick and vomiting
airsick
barf
bilious
8
intransitive/transitive mainly journalismif someone turns a game or a fight, or if it turns, it starts to develop in a different way
Synonyms and related words
To become different
change
turn into
change into
Synonyms and related words
To change a situation
turn
redress the balance
let the genie out of the bottle
9
intransitive if milk turns, it becomes sour
Synonyms and related words
To decay, or to rot
biodegrade
curdle
decay
10
transitive to give a particular shape to a piece of wood or metal using a lathe
Synonyms and related words
To use a tool
card
chase
chip away

phrases

not know where/which way to turn

turn your back on

turn someone’s head

turn heads

phrasal verbs

turn against

turn around

turn away

turn away from

turn back

turn down

turn in

turn in on

turn into

turn off

turn on

turn out

turn over

turn round

turn to

turn up

turn

verb

US /tɜrn/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	turn
he/she/it	turns
present participle	turning
past tense	turned
past participle	turned

1
intransitive/transitive to change the position of your body or head so that you are facing in a different direction
She turned and smiled at me.
He turned his head and looked around the room.
turn away:
Lopez just glared at the other man and then turned away.
turn over:
I put the blanket over my head, turned over, and went to sleep.
turn around:
The girls in front turned around and grinned.
turn back:
He turned back just in time to see her disappearing around the corner.
turn someone/something away (from someone/something):
She turned her face away, desperate to avoid his kiss.
turn to do something:
The whole audience turned to stare at the latecomers.
turn to:
Maria turned to the reporters and said: “I’m innocent.”
turn something toward something /someone:
The rescued men turned their heads toward the ocean and thought of their lost comrades.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
1. 1a
  transitive to change the position of something so that it is pointing in a different direction
  turn something around:
  Turn your chairs around so you’re facing me.
  turn something on someone/something:
  The attacker killed three people before turning the gun on himself.
  turn something over:
  Turn the tape over and press “Play.”
  Synonyms and related words
  To change position
  turn
  spin
  overturn
2
intransitive to change the direction in which you are moving or traveling
turn around/toward/into etc.:
We turned into our driveway, glad to get home.
The truck turned around and came back toward us.
turn left/right:
Follow this path; then turn right and walk uphill.
Synonyms and related words
To move, or to move something away or back
back away
draw back
part
1. 2a
  transitive to make something change the direction in which it is moving
  turn something around/toward/into etc.:
  He turned the car in the direction of the city.
  They ordered the pilot to turn the plane around.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move, or to move something away or back
  back away
  draw back
  part
2. 2b
  intransitive if a road or river turns, it bends and goes in a different direction
  The road turns to follow the cliffs at the little village of Croton.
  Here the road turns sharply to the right.
  Synonyms and related words
  What roads, paths and areas of land do
  ascend
  bend
  bifurcate
3. 2c
  intransitive if the tide turns, it moves in the opposite direction
  Synonyms and related words
  What liquids can do
  break
  burst
  cast up
3
intransitive to make a circular movement
I heard the key turn in the lock.
Synonyms and related words
To move in circles or twists
spin
revolve
whirl
1. 3a
  transitive to make something move in a circle
  Turning this wheel will start the machine.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move in circles or twists
  spin
  revolve
  whirl
4
linking verb to change and do or become something else
turn ugly/nasty/violent:
The game turned ugly in the final minutes, when two players were ejected for fighting.
turn cold/chilly:
The weather turned quite chilly in the afternoon.
turn professional:
Duval turned professional in 1993.
turn informant/killer:
She was betrayed by a childhood friend who turned government informant.
Synonyms and related words
To become different
transition
change
turn into
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
1. 4a
  to change and become another color
  The leaves turn bright red in autumn.
  Synonyms and related words
  To become a different color
  blacken
  bleach
  bleed
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
5
linking verb to become a particular age or a particular time
He turned 40 in March.
It’s just turned midnight.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
6
transitive if you turn the page of a book or magazine, you move it in order to read a different page
Synonyms and related words
To read something quickly
glance
scan
skim
7
intransitive/transitive if your stomach turns, or if something turns your stomach, you feel as if food in your stomach is going to come out through your mouth
Synonyms and related words
Feeling sick and vomiting
airsick
barf
bilious
8
intransitive if milk turns, it becomes sour
Synonyms and related words
To decay, or to rot
biodegrade
curdle
decay
9
intransitive/transitive mainly journalismif someone turns a game or a fight, or if it turns, it starts to develop in a different way
Synonyms and related words
To become different
transition
change
turn into
Synonyms and related words
To change a situation
turn
redress the balance
level the playing field
10
transitive to give a particular shape to a piece of wood or metal using a lathe
Synonyms and related words
To use a tool
card
chase
chip away

phrases

not know where/which way to turn

turn your back on

turn a cartwheel/somersault

turn someone’s head

turn heads

phrasal verbs

turn against

turn around

turn away

turn away from

turn back

turn down

turn in

turn in on

turn into

turn off

turn on

turn out

turn over

turn over to

turn to

turn up

turn upon

turn ​‌‌‌

turn ​‌‌‌

turn ​‌‌‌

turn ​‌‌‌

turn

turn

turn

turn