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Turn over meaning

Turn over means to move something so the other side faces up. It can also mean to change to a different TV channel (UK).

Check yourself: 3 questionsAll 11 phrasal verbs with turn

turn something over

turn over · turned · turning

B1Separable+2 more meanings

Turn over the page and start question two.

Turn over 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.

  1. 1move something so the other side faces up
  2. 2change to a different TV channel (UK)
  3. 3sell goods worth a certain amount in a period of time
  1. 1

    Move something so the other side faces up

    turn something over

    B1Separable

    • Turn over the page and start question two.
    • Don’t forget to turn the pancake over.
    • The baby turned over in her sleep.
  2. 2

    Change to a different TV channel (UK)

    turn over

    B2No object

    • Can we turn over? I hate this show.
    • She turned over to watch the news.
    • Let’s turn over to the football.
  3. 3

    Sell goods worth a certain amount in a period of time

    turn something over

    C1Separable

    • The shop turns over about two million pounds a year.
    • The company turned over ten million last year.
    • A café that turns over this much is doing well.
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Is turn over separable?

Turn over is separable when you flip something: turn over the card, turn the card over, turn it over. You can also use it without an object: The baby turned over.

In business, turnover is a noun for the money a company takes in. Staff turnover means how many people leave and are replaced. “Turn over” a business is not the same as “take over”.

Verb tenses for turn over

PresentI turn over · she turns over
Pastturned over
Present perfecthave turned over
-ing formturning over

Common mistakes with turn over

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: Turn over it, please.

    Right: Turn it over, please.

    A pronoun goes between turn and over.

  • Wrong: Please turn the page on.

    Right: Please turn over the page.

    To see the next page, say turn over, not turn on.

  • Wrong: He turned over to the police.

    Right: He handed himself over to the police.

    Turn over alone does not mean give someone to the police. Use hand over, or turn in.

Synonyms and opposites of turn over

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

  • flipturn something over quickly, informal
  • switch overchange to another channel or programme
  • roll overturn your body over, for example in bed

Opposite

  • leave it as it iskeep the same side facing up
  • stay putnot move

Turn over quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1The pancake is ready on this side. ___ it ___ now.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3What does “turn over the page” mean?

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.

Test yourself on turnTake the full test

Turn over FAQ

Questions people ask about turn over.

What does turn over mean?

It means move something so the other side faces up. It can also mean change a TV channel, or say how much money a business takes in.

What is turnover in business?

Turnover is the total money a company takes in from sales during a period. It is not the same as profit.

What does “turn over” mean on a form or a page?

It tells you to read the other side of the page. PTO means please turn over.

Use turn over 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.

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