Turn on meaning
Turn on means to make a light, machine or tap start working. It can also mean to attack or criticise someone suddenly.
turn something on
turn on · turned · turning
Can you turn on the light?
Turn on meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Make a light, machine or tap start working
turn something on
- Can you turn on the light?
- I turned the TV on to watch the news.
- She turned the oven on and waited.
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2
Attack or criticise someone suddenly
turn on somebody or something
- The dog suddenly turned on its owner.
- Her friends turned on her after the argument.
- The crowd turned on the referee.
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3
Start to show a feeling or a quality on purpose
turn something on
- He turned on the charm to get the job.
- She can turn the tears on whenever she wants.
- At parties he really turns on the charm.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use turn on in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is turn on separable?
When turn on means start a machine, it is separable: turn on the light, turn the light on. With a pronoun, it goes in the middle: turn it on, not turn on it.
Turn on someone (attack them) is not separable: The dog turned on him. Turn on the charm is a fixed phrase and means show charm deliberately.
Verb tenses for turn on
| Present | I turn on · she turns on |
|---|---|
| Past | turned on |
| Present perfect | have turned on |
| -ing form | turning on |
Common mistakes with turn on
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Please turn on it.
Right: Please turn it on.
A pronoun goes between turn and on.
Wrong: It’s dark. Turn off the light.
Right: It’s dark. Turn on the light.
Turn on starts a light, turn off stops it.
Wrong: The dog turned on to its owner.
Right: The dog turned on its owner.
No to: turn on someone is one phrasal verb.
Synonyms and opposites of turn on
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- switch onmeans the same; switch is for a button, turn can also be a knob or a tap
- start upbegin to work, especially a computer
- put onbegin to play music or a film
Turn on quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1It’s dark in here. Can you ___ the light?
Turn on makes a light start working.
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2Choose the right sentence.
A pronoun goes in the middle.
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3“The dog turned on its owner.” What happened?
Turn on someone can mean attack them suddenly.
More phrasal verbs with turn
All phrasal verbs with turn, by level, with an exercise
11 phrasal verbs start with turn. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- turn offA2make a light, machine or tap stop working
- turn intoB1change and become something different
- turn aroundB1change direction to face the other way
- turn overB1move something so the other side faces up
- turn awayB1turn your face or body so you do not look at something
- turn downB2say no to an offer, an invitation or a person
- turn upB2arrive, often late or when nobody expects you
- turn outB2happen or end in a particular way
- turn backB2return the way you have come, or make someone do this
- turn inB1give something to a teacher, a boss or an authority
Turn on FAQ
Questions people ask about turn on.
What does turn on mean?
It mostly means make a light, machine, water or gas start working. Turn on the tap, turn on the heating.
What is the difference between turn on and switch on?
There is little difference. Switch on is used for buttons and switches. Turn on also fits taps and knobs.
What does “turn on someone” mean?
It means attack or blame a person suddenly, often someone who was close to you. The team turned on the coach after the loss.
Use turn on in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.