Turn Meaning

UK /tɜːn/
US /tɜːrn/
Word Definition
turn meaning

Turn Definition & Usage

verb

To move in a circular direction around a point or axis.

Examples

  • "He turned the wheel to the left."
  • "The dancers turned in perfect synchrony."
  • "She turned her head to see who was calling her."
  • "The car turned sharply at the corner."
  • "The wind turned from north to south overnight."
verb

To change position, state, or condition.

Examples

  • "His mood turned sour after the meeting."
  • "The season turned colder as the days grew shorter."
  • "The negotiations turned in their favor after the intervention."
  • "The tide turned, bringing the boat back toward the shore."
  • "She turned down the job offer, feeling it wasn’t the right time."
noun

A change or reversal in direction, a shift, or a significant point in a process or event.

Examples

  • "The turn of the century brought new technologies."
  • "She made a turn in her career after years in finance."
  • "The game took a dramatic turn after the injury."
  • "There was a sudden turn in the weather, and it began to rain."
  • "At the turn of the season, the flowers bloomed."
noun

A sequence or instance of taking turns or alternating roles.

Examples

  • "It’s your turn to drive."
  • "After a long wait, it was finally my turn to speak."
  • "The game is played in turns, with each player making a move."
  • "We take turns cooking dinner every week."
  • "Let’s take turns reading the story aloud."

Cultural Context

The word 'turn' has evolved over centuries, originating from the Latin 'tornare', meaning to rotate or turn. It is now used widely in everyday English to describe both physical motion and metaphorical changes or shifts. The word is versatile, appearing in idiomatic expressions, games, and descriptions of personal changes.

The Turn of Fate

Story

The Turn of Fate

It was a crisp autumn day when Emma found herself standing at the crossroads. She had just left her job in the city after years of feeling trapped in a career that wasn’t right for her. The turn in her life had come unexpectedly, like the sudden turn of a corner during a long journey. As she looked around, she thought about the decisions that led her here and the ones that still lay ahead. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind. First, she had turned down a promotion that would have bound her to a life of corporate meetings and endless deadlines. The decision had turned her world upside down for a while, but now, standing at the edge of this quiet village, it felt like the right choice. She turned her head toward the horizon, considering what her next steps would be. It was then that an old friend, Sarah, turned up unexpectedly. Sarah had always been a whirlwind of energy, always on the go, always turning one idea into another. Emma smiled as Sarah pulled up in her bright yellow car. "You look like you’ve turned a corner, Emma. What happened?" The two friends caught up over coffee, and Emma explained how everything had changed for her. Sarah listened, nodding in agreement. "Sometimes it takes a big turn to realize what’s truly important." Emma laughed softly. The word 'turn' had taken on so many meanings for her in the last few weeks: the literal turn away from her old life, the turn in her perspective, and the turn of fate that had led her here. Little did she know, the biggest turn of all was still ahead. As they talked, Sarah suggested that Emma might want to visit a nearby town to explore new career opportunities. "Sometimes, it just takes one more turn to change everything," Sarah said with a wink. As Emma considered the possibility of a fresh start, she knew that her life had reached a pivotal turn. But unlike her past decisions, this one felt different—more like a turn toward something new, something exciting. The story ends with Emma stepping into a new adventure, her life full of possibilities after the turns she had taken.

The Turn of Fate