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Definitions

turning

[tur-ning] / ˈtɜr nɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
active
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alive effective operating
STRONG
flowing functioning going mobile movable operative progressive pushing rapid rolling running rushing rustling shifting simmering speeding streaming traveling walking working
WEAK
astir at work bustling efficacious exertive hasty impelling in force in play in process moving restless speedy swarming
Antonyms
STRONG
fixed inoperative unmovable unworking
WEAK
abeyant disinterested dormant idle immobile inactive indifferent inert lazy quiescent quiet sluggish
ADJECTIVE
featuring
Synonyms
STRONG
displaying headlining highlighting presenting promoting pushing recommending showing starring
WEAK
calling attention to drawing attention to giving center stage to making much of pointing up showing off turning the spotlight on
ADJECTIVE
flexuous
Synonyms
WEAK
bending crooked curved curving meandering meandrous serpentine sinuous snaky tortuous wavering
ADJECTIVE
operating
Synonyms
STRONGEST
performing running
STRONG
accomplishing administering conducting contriving determining directing driving executing finishing fulfilling guiding maintaining managing manipulating moving ordering practicing regulating revolving serving spinning supervising sustaining transacting using wielding
WEAK
at work
ADJECTIVE
revolving
Synonyms
STRONGEST
orbiting spinning swirling whirling
STRONG
circling circulating encircling gyrating pirouetting reeling rolling twirling
ADJECTIVE
vertiginous
Synonyms
WEAK
dizzy giddy revolving rotating spinning unstable whirling
ADJECTIVE
whirling
Synonyms
STRONGEST
revolving rotating spinning
WEAK
vertiginous
NOUN
adjustment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alteration arrangement improvement modification readjustment regulation
STRONG
acclimation acclimatization balancing conformance fitting fixing mending ordering organization orientation redress regulating setting shaping standardization
WEAK
correcting organizing repairing
NOUN
angle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
corner edge intersection slant twist
STRONG
V Y bend crook crotch cusp decline divergence dogleg elbow flare flection flexure fork incline knee nook notch obliquity point turn
NOUN
bow
Synonyms
STRONG
angle arc arch bend curvature curve flection flexure inclination round turn
WEAK
curvation nod
Antonyms
STRONG
line
WEAK
straighten
NOUN
circuit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
course district lap route tour
STRONG
ambit area bounds circle circling circulation circumference circumnavigation circumscription circumvolution compass cycle gyration gyre journey limit line orbit perambulation perimeter periphery range region round tract turn twirl way wheel whirl wind winding zone
Antonyms
STRONG
center inside interior middle
NOUN
conversion
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alteration changeover growth modification reconstruction reorganization switch transformation
STRONG
about-face exchange flip-flop flux innovation metamorphosis novelty passage passing permutation progress qualification reclamation reformation regeneration resolution resolving reversal transfiguration translation transmogrification transmutation
WEAK
change of heart metanoia metasis proselytization remodelling see the light turning around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
stagnation
WEAK
idleness sameness
NOUN
departure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
change shift
STRONG
aberration declination deflection difference digression divergence diversion innovation novelty variance variation veering wandering
WEAK
branching off branching out in thing last word latest thing new wrinkle rambling straying
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity
WEAK
abidance arrival coming continuation entrance keeping stay
NOUN
deviation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aberration alteration anomaly breach detour discrepancy disparity divergence diversion fluctuation inconsistency irregularity modification variance variation
STRONG
crotch deflection difference digression fork shift transgression
WEAK
hereticism
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreement conformity consistency harmony normality regularity sameness similarity
WEAK
straightforwardness uniformity
NOUN
divergence
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discrepancy disparity distinction diversity
STRONG
aberration alteration crotch deflection departure detour deviation digression dissimilarity dissimilitude divagation divergency division fork mutation otherness parting radiation ramification separation unlikeness variety
WEAK
alterity disagreeing dissemblance varying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
sameness similarity
STRONG
conformity uniformity
WEAK
accord agreement concord convergence harmony
NOUN
diversion
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aberration departure detour deviation
STRONG
alteration deflection digression divergence variation
WEAK
fake out red herring
NOUN
genuflection
Synonyms
STRONG
angle arc arch bend bending bob curtsy curvature curve flection flexure inclination kowtow nod obeisance round salaam turn
WEAK
curvation
Antonyms
STRONG
line
NOUN
gyration
Synonyms
STRONG
circle circuit circulation circumvolution cycle gyre lap orbit pirouette reel roll rotation round spin swirl turn twirl wheel whirl
WEAK
revolve revolving
NOUN
metanoia
Synonyms
WEAK
about-face alteration change of heart changeover exchange flip-flop flux growth innovation metamorphosis metasis modification novelty passage passing permutation progress proselytization qualification rebirth reclamation reconstruction reformation regeneration remodelling reorganization resolution resolving reversal see the light switch transfiguration transformation translation transmogrification transmutation turning around
NOUN
regeneration
Synonyms
STRONGEST
rebirth reclamation reconstruction transformation
STRONG
about-face alteration changeover exchange flip-flop flux growth innovation metamorphosis modification novelty passage passing permutation progress qualification reformation reorganization resolution resolving reversal switch transfiguration translation transmogrification transmutation
WEAK
change of heart metanoia metasis proselytization remodelling see the light turning around
Antonyms
STRONG
decrease stagnation
NOUN
reverse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
reversal
STRONG
about-face antipode antithesis back bottom contra contradiction contradictory contrary converse counter flip-flop inverse overturning rear regression retrogression retroversion reversion switch turn turnabout underside verso volte-face
WEAK
antipole change of mind counterpole flip side other side reversement turnaround wrong side
Antonyms
STRONG
front same
WEAK
identical
NOUN
revolution
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cycle
STRONG
circle circumvolution gyration gyre lap orbit pirouette reel roll rotation round spin swirl turn twirl wheel whirl
WEAK
revolve revolving
Antonyms
WEAK
stagnation submission
NOUN
rotation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cycle
STRONG
eddy revolution spin succession torque turn vortex
Antonyms
STRONG
stagnation
NOUN
tendency
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bias inclination leaning movement shift trend
STRONG
aim bearing bent course current curve drift drive heading purport run tenor turn way
NOUN
turn
Synonyms
STRONGEST
angle change corner curve departure direction reversal round shift spin spiral swing trend twist wind
STRONG
about-face bend bias bow branch circle circuit circulation circumvolution cycle detour deviation drift flection flexure fork gyration gyre heading hook pirouette pivot quirk retroversion reverse reversion roll rotation tack tendency turnabout twisting wheel whirl winding yaw
WEAK
changeabout right-about
Antonyms
WEAK
failure inability miss stagnation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Primo Levi, reflecting on his survival in Auschwitz, wrote that “there was no use closing our eyes or turning our backs, because it was all around us, in every direction, as far as the horizon.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

This step is critical for turning laboratory discoveries into practical tools that doctors can use.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

A woman who challenged herself to try 50 new things before turning 50 is building a community to change women's mindsets around being middle-aged.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

When you find yourself turning away, you should recognize it as a privilege that gives you the freedom to reflect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

As he was turning to go, Fin-Kedinn called him back.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver