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.

The Neutral Theory emerged at a turning point in biology.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

As tensions come back down a notch with the United States, after Europe got approval of a 2025 trade agreement over the line, the bloc is turning its focus to China.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Speaking later in a news conference, Littler, who won £410,000 in prize money, hoped his release of emotions would be a "turning point" in his relationship with the crowd.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

NIL earnings have grown so quickly that many top college athletes are seriously weighing staying in school longer — and opting not to turn professional — because turning pro might mean a pay cut.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

Like the mob it was turning into, the people around me all started moving angrily toward the too-small exit.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

turning

Example Sentences

Related Words