# turn into sth

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turn-into-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to change and become something different, or to make someone or something do this.

For teachers: to undergo a transformation or to cause a change in form, character, or function; functions as a transitive or intransitive phrasal-prepositional verb.

## Examples

- The caterpillar will turn into a butterfly.
- What started as a small argument quickly turned into a serious fight between the two brothers.
- The alchemists of the Middle Ages spent centuries attempting to discover a method to turn lead into gold through chemical processes.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The rain turned in snow." but "The rain turned into snow." — the preposition 'into' is necessary to show the movement from one state to another; 'in' does not express change.

## Usage notes

- often used for natural growth, magical changes, or situations that develop in an unexpected way.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'become'; while 'become' focuses on the final state, 'turn into' emphasizes the process of transformation from one thing to another.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.