turned
turned — verb
- turnedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- turneds3rd person singular
- turneding-ing form
- turnededpast simple
1. to spin or cause something to spin around a central point, like a wheel on its a
to spin or cause something to spin around a central point, like a wheel on its axle or a key inside a lock.
The Earth turns slowly on its axis, giving us day and night.
intransitive + 'on' for axis
Emre turned the handle and pushed the heavy wooden door open.
transitive: turn + object
The factory's giant metal gears began to turn slowly as the power was switched back on.
Lucía turned the key in the lock until she heard a satisfying click.
Yuki watched the bicycle wheel turn as she spun it to check for any bent spokes.
- stop
cease rotating
- hold still
remain motionless
文法句型
turn + object (key / handle / wheel)
turn + on / around / round (axis or centre)
turn + adverbial (slowly / gently)
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs of manner (slowly, gently, quickly) and prepositions specifying the axis or centre (on, around, round).
常見錯誤
2. to move your body so that it faces a different direction, often by rotating on y
to move your body so that it faces a different direction, often by rotating on your feet or twisting your upper body.
Ravindra turned around when he heard someone call his name.
turn around — complete body rotation to face opposite
During the waltz, Chen turned his partner smoothly under his arm and dipped her at the final chord.
Sirin turned her head to look at the clock on the wall behind her.
The teacher turned to face the class and began explaining the lesson.
Joon turned on his heel and walked out of the room without a word.
- rotate
more mechanical; less common for people
- spin around
faster and less controlled motion
- swivel
used for turning from a fixed point, e.g. in a chair
- face forward
remain looking straight ahead
- stay still
not move from current position
文法句型
turn + adverbial (around / away / round)
turn + body part + direction
turn + on + body part (heel)
用法筆記
Often used with particles like 'around', 'away', 'round' to indicate the direction of the body movement. The transitive pattern (turn + head / face / body) specifies which body part moves.
常見錯誤
3. to change the direction a vehicle, person, or moving object travels, by steering
to change the direction a vehicle, person, or moving object travels, by steering or following a new path rather than continuing straight.
The car turned left at the traffic lights and drove toward the bridge.
turn + direction (left/right)
Brian turned the boat toward the island when the wind picked up.
transitive: turn + object + toward
The path turns sharply just past the old oak tree on the hill.
Eli turned his flashlight toward the noise coming from the bushes.
Ayana turned the hose away from the flower bed and started watering the lawn.
- change course
more formal; used for ships, planes, or plans
- veer
suggests a sudden, uncontrolled change
- swerve
a sharp, quick turn to avoid something
- go straight
continue in the same direction without turning
文法句型
turn + direction (left / right / north)
turn + object + direction / preposition
turn + into / onto / toward + place
用法筆記
Common with direction words (left, right, north) and prepositions of destination (into, onto, toward, away from). For vehicles, 'turn' can include using the steering wheel or handlebars.
常見錯誤
4. in cricket, when a ball sent by the bowler changes direction after it bounces on
in cricket, when a ball sent by the bowler changes direction after it bounces on the pitch, because of spin.
The bowler watched with satisfaction as the ball turned sharply past the batsman's bat.
intransitive — ball turns + adverb (sharply)
On this dry pitch the ball turns a lot more than on a wet one.
Esme practised bowling spin so the ball would turn after bouncing.
The ball turned unexpectedly and hit the stumps, sending the batter back to the pavilion.
文法句型
ball + turn + adverbial (sharply / a lot / unexpectedly)
用法筆記
Only used in cricket; not used for other ball sports. The amount of turn depends on pitch conditions and the bowler's technique (spin bowling).
常見錯誤
5. to move something so that the side that was facing down or hidden is now facing
to move something so that the side that was facing down or hidden is now facing up, or to fold back a page or sheet to see the other side.
Justin turned the page and continued reading the next chapter of the book.
transitive: turn a page / book leaf
The cat turned over and stretched its legs in the warm sun.
intransitive + over — animal rolling onto other side
Piotr turned the pancake with a quick flick of the frying pan.
Manuela turned the card over to read the message written on the back.
The farmer turned the soil in the field before planting the seeds.
- leave as is
not change which side faces up
文法句型
turn + object + over
turn + page / card / pancake
turn + over (intransitive)
用法筆記
The object being turned always has two distinct sides; this sense always involves exposing the opposite side or surface. 'Turn over' often combines with reflexive or passive constructions.
常見錯誤
6. to change from one physical or chemical state, colour, or appearance to another
to change from one physical or chemical state, colour, or appearance to another — for example, when milk goes sour, leaves change colour, or a person's face goes pale.
The leaves turn yellow and orange in autumn before they fall to the ground.
turn + colour adjective
The milk turned sour after it was left out of the fridge all night.
Her face turned pale when she heard the terrible news about the accident.
The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly after several weeks in its cocoon.
The weather turned cold suddenly, so everyone put on their coats and scarves.
- become
more general and neutral; can be used for almost any change
- change into
suggests a more complete or dramatic transformation
- transform
formal; suggests a major or impressive change
- remain
stay the same, not change
文法句型
turn + adjective (red / cold / sour)
turn + into + noun (a monster / a butterfly)
用法筆記
Followed by an adjective (turn cold / red / sour) or 'into' + noun (turn into a monster / a problem). Distinguish from senses 7–8 (reach a specific age or time), which use a different construction (turned 30 / turned midnight).
常見錯誤
7. When a person reaches a certain age, they become that many years old on their bi
When a person reaches a certain age, they become that many years old on their birthday.
Nora turned twenty-two last Saturday and celebrated with a dinner party.
turn + age/number in past tense
Eli's youngest daughter will turn five next month and start kindergarten.
The company turned fifty years old in 2023, marking half a century in business.
When Trang turned eighteen, she opened her first bank account.
- reach
more formal; 'reach the age of forty' sounds more official than 'turn forty'
文法句型
turn + age/number
用法筆記
Object must be a number or age expression. No preposition is used before the age — 'turned 30', not 'turned to 30'.
常見錯誤
8. When the clock time, calendar date, or named season arrives at a specific moment
When the clock time, calendar date, or named season arrives at a specific moment — unlike the birthday sense (verb/7), which needs a person as the subject ('she turned thirty').
It had just turned midnight when Hana heard a strange noise downstairs.
impersonal 'it' + turn + time expression
As the calendar turned to autumn, Mei packed away her summer clothes and brought out warm jumpers.
As the calendar turned to spring, Beatriz began planning her vegetable garden.
It turned half past two in the morning by the time the nurses had finished cleaning the emergency room.
文法句型
it + turn + time expression
turn + month/season
用法筆記
Subject is usually the impersonal 'it' ('It turned midnight') or a time-measuring noun ('the clock', 'the calendar'). No preposition before the time expression.
常見錯誤
9. To operate a switch or dial on a device to start it, stop it, or make it produce
To operate a switch or dial on a device to start it, stop it, or make it produce more or less of something, like heat, sound, or water.
Reema turned the thermostat up because the apartment felt too cold.
turn + object + up — direction particle shows increase
Christopher turned the radio off before getting out of the car.
Tariq carefully turned the volume down so he would not wake the baby.
Eshe turned the tap on and let the water run until it was hot.
Could you turn the oven on and preheat it to two hundred degrees?
文法句型
turn + object + on/off/up/down
turn + the/possessive + control (knob, dial, switch)
用法筆記
The meaning of the direction (on, off, up, down) is carried by a particle that follows the object. 'Turn the TV' alone is incomplete — you must specify 'turn the TV on' or 'turn the TV off'.
常見錯誤
10. To hurt your ankle or foot by giving it a sudden, forceful twist, usually from l
To hurt your ankle or foot by giving it a sudden, forceful twist, usually from landing awkwardly or stepping on uneven ground.
Mei turned her ankle while jogging on the rocky trail near the park.
turn + possessive + ankle — context of walking or running on uneven ground
Romi turned his foot on a loose stone during the morning run.
The basketball player turned his ankle in the second quarter and limped off the court.
Beatriz turned her ankle stepping off the kerb and had to rest on a bench.
文法句型
turn + possessive + ankle/foot
用法筆記
The object is almost always a foot, ankle, or occasionally a knee. This describes a sudden twisting injury, not a gradual condition.
常見錯誤
11. To shape a piece of wood, metal, or other hard material by spinning it quickly a
To shape a piece of wood, metal, or other hard material by spinning it quickly and pressing cutting tools against it to remove material.
Sana spent the afternoon turning wooden bowls on her grandfather's old lathe.
turn + material (wooden bowls) + on a lathe — technical woodworking
The carpenter turned a block of oak into a beautiful table leg.
Skilled workers at the workshop can turn metal parts for engines using industrial lathes.
A visitor watched the craftsman turn plain wood into a smooth chair leg.
文法句型
turn + material (wood/metal) + on a lathe
turn + material + into + finished object
用法筆記
This is a technical meaning used in woodworking and metalworking. The object is the material being shaped, and the result often follows 'into'.
turned — noun
1. the moment when it is someone's chance to do something, because each person in a
the moment when it is someone's chance to do something, because each person in a group acts one after another in a fixed order
Kofi, it is your turn to read the next paragraph out loud.
it is [possessive] turn to [verb]
The children took turns pushing each other on the swing in the park.
took turns + [verb+ing]
Each student spoke in turn, explaining their ideas about the science project.
When it was Maeve's turn to choose the game, she picked cards instead of board games.
The lifeguards at the community pool took turns watching the children, switching every thirty minutes to stay alert.
- go
informal British term for one's turn ('it's your go')
- shot
informal, especially in American English ('give it a shot')
- opportunity
more general, less tied to sequential order
文法句型
it is [possessive] turn to [verb]
take turns [verb+ing]
in turn
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive determiners (my, your, his, her, etc.) in the pattern 'it is [possessive] turn to [verb]'. The fixed phrase 'take turns' always uses the plural 'turns'.
常見錯誤
2. a complete circular movement made by something going around a fixed central poin
a complete circular movement made by something going around a fixed central point or line
The dancer performed three full turns on one foot without losing her balance.
full turn — a complete 360 degree rotation
Give the handle another turn and the water will stop running completely.
give [object] a turn — rotate once
The captain gave the wheel a half turn, and the ferry changed course toward the harbour.
The gymnast landed cleanly after a double turn in the air during her routine.
- rotation
more formal, often used for mechanical or scientific contexts
- revolution
a complete turn around a centre, especially of a wheel or planet
- spin
suggests fast rotation, often informal
文法句型
a [number] of turns
give something a turn
用法筆記
Often combined with a number or adjective that specifies how much rotation occurs ('half a turn', 'a quarter turn', 'a full turn').
3. a movement that changes the way a person, vehicle, or path is going or pointing
a movement that changes the way a person, vehicle, or path is going or pointing
The taxi made a sharp turn to the left and disappeared down a narrow street.
make a [adjective] turn — describes the type of direction change
Take the next turn on your right, and the library will be straight ahead.
take a turn — follow a road or path that turns
At the turn in the trail, Hoa stopped to check the map and saw a beautiful lake below.
The river makes a wide turn around the old castle before flowing toward the coast.
Sivan slowed down before the turn and signaled to show which way she was going.
文法句型
make a turn
take a turn
at the turn
用法筆記
When describing roads, paths, or routes, 'turn' often combines with an adjective indicating the shape ('sharp turn', 'wide turn', 'gentle turn') or a direction ('left turn', 'right turn').
常見錯誤
4. the point at which a situation, process, trend, or period changes from one condi
the point at which a situation, process, trend, or period changes from one condition or direction to another, often suddenly
The weather took an unexpected turn, and within an hour the sunny sky was full of dark clouds.
take a[n] [adjective] turn — change in a particular way
Her health took a turn for the worse after she caught a bad cold during the winter trip.
take a turn for the worse — fixed phrase meaning become worse
The novel has a surprising turn at the end that nobody in the book club expected.
At the turn of the century, many families moved from the countryside into the growing cities to find work.
The business took a positive turn when the new manager introduced cheaper materials and faster delivery.
- shift
suggests a change in direction or emphasis
- twist
an unexpected change, especially in a story
- development
a new event that changes a situation, often neutral or positive
文法句型
take a turn for the worse or better
at the turn of the century or year
用法筆記
The fixed phrase 'take a turn for the worse/better' is a common idiom meaning that a situation becomes worse or better. 'Turn of the century' specifically means the time when one century ends and another begins.
常見錯誤
5. a single short piece of entertainment, such as a song, comedy sketch, or dance,
a single short piece of entertainment, such as a song, comedy sketch, or dance, performed as part of a larger show
The comedian's short turn had the whole audience laughing so hard that several people cried.
comic turn — a short comedy performance
The juggler's turn at the variety show earned a standing ovation when he balanced a spinning plate on his nose.
Olivia sang a folk song as her turn at the open-mic night, and the crowd cheered loudly.
The magician's turn involved three doves, a deck of cards, and a volunteer from the front row.
文法句型
do a turn
comic turn
musical turn
用法筆記
Primarily used in British English to describe an act in a variety show, circus, or similar entertainment lineup. Less common in American English, where 'act' or 'number' is preferred.
6. a short period during which someone feels ill, dizzy, faint, or suddenly shocked
a short period during which someone feels ill, dizzy, faint, or suddenly shocked, especially as a result of a medical condition or a frightening experience
After standing in the hot sun, the old man had a dizzy turn and had to sit down.
have a [adjective] turn — experience a temporary spell of illness
The loud crash from the kitchen gave poor Jenna such a turn that she dropped her coffee cup.
give [someone] a turn — cause a sudden shock or fright
Grandmother had a funny turn last night, but she felt much better after resting for an hour.
Sana had a fainting turn during the train journey, and a kind passenger helped her find a seat.
文法句型
have a turn
give someone a turn
用法筆記
This sense is idiomatic and informal, most commonly used in British English. 'A funny turn' is a fixed phrase meaning a brief, unexplained episode of dizziness or illness. 'Give someone a turn' means to shock or frighten someone.