Phrasal verbs with turn
Turn is about changing direction or state. You turn on the light, turn down an offer, and things turn out well, or turn into something else.
Phrasal verbs with turn by level
- A1–A22turn on, turn off
- B18turn into, turn around, turn over
- B211turn off, turn over, turn away
- C1–C29turn on, turn off, turn around
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
A1–A2The first ones to learn 2 meanings
B1Common, with a clear meaning 8 meanings
- turn intoturn into somethingB1
change and become something different
The rain turned into snow overnight.
- turn intoturn something intoB1
make someone or something become different
They turned the garage into a small gym.
- turn aroundturn something aroundB1
change direction to face the other way
She turned around and smiled.
- turn overturn something overB1
move something so the other side faces up
Turn over the page and start question two.
- turn awayturn awayB1
turn your face or body so you do not look at something
She turned away and started to cry.
- turn downturn something downB1
make a sound, heat or light lower
Can you turn the music down? I’m on the phone.
- turn upturn something upB1
make a sound, heat or light higher
Turn it up! I love this song.
- turn inturn something inB1
give something to a teacher, a boss or an authority
Please turn in your homework by Friday.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 11 meanings
- turn offturn off somethingB2
leave a road and go onto another one
Turn off at the next exit.
- turn overturn overB2
change to a different TV channel (UK)
Can we turn over? I hate this show.
- turn awayturn somebody or something awayB2
refuse to let someone come in
The club turned him away at the door.
- turn downturn somebody or something downB2
say no to an offer, an invitation or a person
He turned down the job because the pay was low.
- turn upturn upB2
arrive, often late or when nobody expects you
He turned up an hour late.
- turn outturn outB2
happen or end in a particular way
The party turned out really well.
- turn outturn outB2
be discovered to be true
It turned out that he was my cousin.
- turn outturn outB2
go to an event, especially to watch or to vote
Thousands of people turned out to vote.
- turn outturn something outB2
switch off a light
Please turn out the lights when you leave.
- turn backturn something backB2
return the way you have come, or make someone do this
We had to turn back because of the snow.
- turn inturn inB2
go to bed
I’m tired. I think I’ll turn in.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 9 meanings
- turn onturn on somebody or somethingC1
attack or criticise someone suddenly
The dog suddenly turned on its owner.
- turn onturn something onC1
start to show a feeling or a quality on purpose
He turned on the charm to get the job.
- turn offturn somebody offC1
make someone lose interest or feel disgust
The loud music really turned me off.
- turn aroundturn somebody or something aroundC2
change a bad situation into a good one
The new manager turned the company around.
- turn overturn something overC1
sell goods worth a certain amount in a period of time
The shop turns over about two million pounds a year.
- turn awayturn away somethingC1
stop supporting or choosing something
Many voters have turned away from the party.
- turn upturn upC1
be found by chance, after being lost
My passport finally turned up in a coat pocket.
- turn backturn something backC1
fold something back
She turned back the blanket and sat down.
- turn inturn somebody inC1
take a criminal to the police, or go to them yourself
She turned her brother in to the police.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with turn that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
turn off: make a light, machine or tap stop working.
turn out: also switch off a light, but only a light.
turn around or turn back?
turn around: change direction to face the other way.
turn back: return the way you came.
turn up: arrive, often late or when nobody expects you.
turn down: make a sound lower.
Phrasal verbs with turn: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Please _____ your phones in the cinema.
Turn off: make a light, machine or tap stop working. More on turn off
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2Her friends _____ her after the argument.
Turn on: attack or criticise someone suddenly. More on turn on
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3Can you turn the music _____? I’m on the phone. (make a sound, heat or light lower)
Turn down: make a sound, heat or light lower. More on turn down
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4Which is correct? (switch off a light)
Turn out is separable here and the object is a noun, so both are right. More on turn out
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5Only five people _____ to the meeting.
Turn up: arrive, often late or when nobody expects you. More on turn up
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6The baby turned over in her sleep. What does it mean here?
Turn over: move something so the other side faces up. More on turn over
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7We turned _____ early after the long drive. (go to bed)
Turn in: go to bed. More on turn in
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8Hundreds of fans were _____ from the stadium.
Turn away: refuse to let someone come in. More on turn away
Phrasal verbs with turn: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with turn are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 11 are the ones learners meet most, with 30 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with turn?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: turn on, turn off. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with turn are separable?
11 of them have at least one separable meaning, where the object can go in the middle: turn on, turn off, turn into, turn around, turn over, turn away. With a pronoun like it or them, the object must go in the middle.