turn
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
How often you will meet it
Rank 384 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 51,454 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.024% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense Turn towards meThe mugger turned and fled before I could see his face
- undergo a transformation or a change of position or action also: change state We turned from Socialism to CapitalismThe people turned against the President when he stole the election
- undergo a change or development also: become The water turned into iceHer former friend became her worst enemy
- cause to move around or rotate turn a keyturn your palm this way
- change to the contrary also: change by reversal, reverse The trend was reversedthe tides turned against him
- pass to the other side of also: move around turn the cornermove around the obstacle
turn in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Why dost thou stay, and turn away?
Narrative and Lyric Poems (first series) · O. J. [Annotator] Stevenson · Chapter 1
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I see You do not mean to turn from me.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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My guests tonight are gay And fain would turn this winter's night to day.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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Carn't yer jest turn the tables, old hoyster, and come for a bit of a fly?
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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Frome did not even turn his head as we drove by, and still in silence we began to mount the next slope.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1