Standard Lemma guide

page-turner

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A highly interesting or suspenseful written work that one is compelled to read very rapidly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Her debut novel is such a page-turner that it's one of those books that you can't put down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who is responsible for turning the pages of another musician’s (especially a pianist or organist’s) sheet music during a performance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • She's a famous soloist today, but she did her time as a page-turner, just as many others have done.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see page, turner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From page + turner.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lukunautinto — suspenseful written work
  • German: Pageturner — suspenseful written work
  • Polish: wciągająca lektura — suspenseful written work
  • Swedish: bladvändare — suspenseful written work
  • French: tourneur de pages — person who turns another musician's pages
  • French: tourneuse de pages — person who turns another musician's pages
  • German: Notenwender — person who turns another musician's pages
  • German: Notenumblätterer — person who turns another musician's pages
  • German: Umblätterer — person who turns another musician's pages
  • German: Seitenumblätterer — person who turns another musician's pages
  • Italian: voltapagine — person who turns another musician's pages
  • Polish: osoba zmieniająca strony z nutami — person who turns another musician's pages
  • Swedish: bladvändare — person who turns another musician's pages
Real reading context

page-turner in complete knowledge articles