turning

noun

turn·​ing ˈtər-niŋ How to pronounce turning (audio)
Synonyms of turningnext
1
: the act or course of one that turns
2
: a place of a change in direction
3
a
: a forming by use of a lathe
broadly : turnery
b
turnings plural : waste produced in turning

Examples of turning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The crime prompted an extraordinary wave of demonstrations across Spain and became a turning point in the country’s public response to ETA terrorism. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 Trump’s assertion Thursday that Palestinian Hamas militants and other armed groups had agreed to disarm had raised hopes of a turning point in the conflict. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026 This month, a relationship could reach a defining turning point. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 The cybersecurity landscape in 2026 is at a critical turning point, with breaches now a certainty. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for turning

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of turning was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing turning

Rhymes for turning

See All Rhymes for turning

Browse Nearby Words

turn indicator
turning
turning bar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turning. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on turning

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for turning

Nglish: Translation of turning for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All