English Reference
noun · adjective

turnover

n. · adj.
US /ˈtɝˌnoʊvɝ/ UK /tˈɜːnəʊvɐ/ turnover UK spelling turnovers

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the rate at which a shop sells and replaces its stock, or the rate at which employees leave and are replaced.

    n.the frequency or ratio at which a particular resource, such as inventory or personnel, is replaced within a given period.

    Simple

    The company has a high staff turnover because the working hours are very long.

    In context

    High employee turnover can be a significant drain on corporate resources due to the cumulative costs of recruitment and training for new hires.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Cooking

    n.a small pie made by folding a piece of pastry over a filling, like apple or cherry.

    n.a small, often semicircular pastry formed by folding a piece of dough over a sweet or savoury filling and sealing the edges.

    Simple

    I bought a warm apple turnover from the bakery for my breakfast.

    In context

    The chef prepared a tray of golden-brown cherry turnovers, dusting each one with a fine layer of powdered sugar before serving.

    pastyhand pie
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    n.a situation in a game where one team loses the ball to the other team.

    n.an instance in which a team loses possession of the ball or puck to the opposition before a shot is attempted.

    Simple

    The team lost the game because they made too many turnovers in the second half.

    In context

    The coach attributed the defeat to a series of unforced turnovers that allowed the opposing team to dominate the transition game.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Archaic

    n.a student worker who is moved from one master to another to finish their training.

    n.an apprentice who is legally transferred from one master to another to complete the remainder of their term of service.

    Simple

    The young blacksmith was a turnover, finishing his final year of training with a new master.

    In context

    Historical records from the guild indicate that the boy was a turnover, having been reassigned after his original master fell into bankruptcy.

    transferee
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical

    adj.made in a way that allows it to be turned over or flipped.

    adj.constructed or designed to be capable of being overturned or inverted.

    Simple

    The mechanic used a turnover tool to reach the bottom of the engine.

    In context

    The assembly line featured a turnover mechanism designed to invert the chassis for underbody inspections.

The Khan family ownership continues to back the club, its overall investment estimated at about £900m, with staff costs at 117% of turnover.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

They lack career opportunities, and their jobs have high turnover built in.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

Deverbal from turn over.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated