Phrasal verbs are expressions formed by combining a verb with a preposition or adverb to create a new meaning different from the verb alone. The verb turn is used in many common phrasal verbs in English, especially in everyday conversation and writing. These phrases often have idiomatic meanings that can’t be understood from turn by itself. In this article, you’ll learn the most useful phrasal verbs with turn, complete with meanings, example sentences, and how to use them correctly.
13 Phrasal Verbs with TURN: Meanings & Examples
Below is a list of phrasal verbs with turn, each formed by combining the verb with a preposition or adverb to create a distinct meaning. Definitions and examples illustrate their usage in everyday English.
1. Turn On
Meaning 1: To switch something on
Can you turn on the TV, please?
Meaning 2: To excite or arouse someone (informal)
That music really turns him on.
Meaning 3: To suddenly attack or oppose someone (emotionally or physically)
The dog turned on its owner.
She turned on me during the meeting.
2. Turn Off
Meaning 1: To switch something off
Don’t forget to turn off the lights.
Meaning 2: To cause someone to lose interest or feel disgusted
His arrogance really turned me off.
Meaning 3: To leave a road (exit)
Turn off at the next junction.
3. Turn Up
Meaning 1: To appear or arrive unexpectedly
He turned up late to the party.
A great job opportunity turned up yesterday.
Meaning 2: To increase volume, speed, or intensity
Turn up the heat. It’s freezing in here.
Meaning 3: To be found unexpectedly
My missing ring turned up in the laundry.
4. Turn Down
Meaning 1: To decrease volume, temperature, etc.
Can you turn down the radio a little?
Meaning 2: To reject or refuse something
She turned down the job offer.
5. Turn Out
Meaning 1: To result or end in a particular way
It turned out to be a great trip after all.
Meaning 2: To attend or be present at an event
Thousands turned out for the protest.
Meaning 3: To produce or manufacture something
The factory turns out 500 shoes a day.
6. Turn Over
Meaning 1: To flip something to the other side
Turn over the page, please.
Meaning 2: To hand something over (usually formally)
He turned over the keys to the landlord.
Meaning 3: To generate revenue or income
The company turns over €2 million per year.
7. Turn Around
Meaning 1: To change direction or position
She turned around to face him.
Meaning 2: To make something successful or improve it after failure
He turned the business around in just six months.
Meaning 3: To complete or respond to something quickly
We can turn this project around in 24 hours.
Meaning 4: To change or reverse direction (become better)
The situation turned around after the announcement.
8. Turn Away
Meaning 1: To refuse entry, access, or service
They turned away anyone without a ticket.
Meaning 2: To move your face, eyes, or body in another direction
She turned away when she saw the scene.
9. Turn Back
Meaning 1: To return in the direction you came from
We had to turn back due to heavy snow.
Meaning 2: To stop someone from going forward
The police turned back the protestors.
10. Turn In
Meaning 1: To go to bed
I’m exhausted. I’m going to turn in early.
Meaning 2: To submit something
Don’t forget to turn in your report.
Meaning 3: To surrender someone to the police
He turned himself in to the authorities.
Meaning 4: To return something
You must turn in your library books by Friday.
11. Turn Into
Meaning 1: To become something else
The frog turned into a prince.
Meaning 2: To transform someone/something
She turned her passion into a business.
Meaning 3: To enter a road
Turn into the next street on the left.
12. Turn Against
Meaning: To stop supporting and begin opposing
The team turned against their coach after the loss.
13. Turn To
Meaning 1: To go to someone for help or advice
She turned to her best friend for support.
Meaning 2: To begin doing or using something (usually bad)
He turned to alcohol after losing his job.
Meaning 3: To begin discussing or focusing on something
Let’s turn to the next topic.
Quiz: Phrasal Verbs with TURN
1. I usually ____ the lights before going to bed.
a) turn off
b) turn up
c) turn over
2. She ____ the job offer because it wasn’t a good fit.
a) turned off
b) turned down
c) turned up
3. After the storm started, we had to ____ and go home.
a) turn back
b) turn over
c) turn on
4. He ____ the page and continued reading.
a) turned in
b) turned down
c) turned over
5. The movie ____ to be better than we expected.
a) turned off
b) turned out
c) turned over
6. The music was too loud, so I asked him to ____ it.
a) turn in
b) turn up
c) turn down
7. I can’t believe my best friend ____ me in front of everyone.
a) turned around
b) turned against
c) turned back
8. Thousands of fans ____ to see the band perform live.
a) turned up
b) turned in
c) turned on
9. They ____ the radio to hear the announcement.
a) turned up
b) turned in
c) turned out
10. He ____ himself ____ to the police after a week on the run.
a) turned / over
b) turned / in
c) turned / back
Quiz Answers
1) turn off
2) turned down
3) turn back
4) turned over
5) turned out
6) turn down
7) turned against
8) turned up
9) turned up
10) turned in
