# turn

/ˈtɝn/ (US) · /tˈɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turn
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to change direction

verb · CEFR A1

to move your body or a vehicle in a new direction.

For teachers: to cause to move or to move oneself so as to face or travel in a different direction.

- Turn left at the next traffic light to find the supermarket.
- The driver had to turn sharply to avoid the debris that had fallen from the truck ahead of him.

### 2. to rotate

verb · CEFR A2

to move in a circle around a central point.

For teachers: to rotate or cause to rotate around an axis or centre.

- You have to turn the key clockwise to unlock the front door.
- The turbine began to turn rapidly as the water pressure increased, generating enough electricity for the entire village.

### 3. to become

verb · CEFR A2

to change into something else or reach a certain age.

For teachers: to undergo a transformation in state, nature, or appearance; also used to indicate reaching a specific age.

- The leaves turn brown in the autumn before they fall off the trees.
- He will turn fifty next month, a milestone that has prompted him to reconsider his career path entirely.

### 4. sequential opportunity

noun · CEFR A1

the time when you are allowed or expected to do something after someone else.

For teachers: an opportunity or obligation to do something in a specified order among a group.

- It is your turn to wash the dishes after dinner tonight.
- Each player must wait for their turn before moving their piece across the board according to the dice roll.

### 5. a change in direction

noun · CEFR A2

a movement or a place where you change direction.

For teachers: an act of changing course or the place where a road or path deviates.

- The car took the turn too fast and nearly hit the fence.
- The mountain road was full of sharp turns that made several passengers feel quite motion-sick during the ascent.

### 6. a helpful or harmful act

noun · CEFR B2

an action that helps or hurts someone else.

For teachers: a service or deed performed for another, often appearing in the phrase 'do someone a good turn'.

- He did me a good turn by lending me his car when mine broke down.
- The local business owner did the community a good turn by sponsoring the youth football team's new uniforms.

### 7. a short performance

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a short act or performance in a show.

For teachers: a short theatrical or musical performance, typically as part of a variety show.

- The comedian's turn was the highlight of the evening's entertainment.
- The veteran singer performed a brief turn at the charity gala, reminding the audience of her enduring vocal talent.

### 8. to shape on a machine

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to shape a piece of wood or metal using a special machine called a lathe.

For teachers: to shape an object by rotating it against a cutting tool on a lathe.

- The carpenter turned the legs of the table to give them a rounded shape.
- The artisan spent hours turning the mahogany block into a perfectly symmetrical bowl with intricate decorative grooves.

## Examples

- It is my turn to play the game.
- The children learned to take turns on the swing at the playground.
- The plot took an unexpected turn when the hero was revealed to be the villain's long-lost brother.

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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.