Phrase guide

toss and turn

verb · 1 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • I didn't get a wink of sleep. I was tossing and turning all night long.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: remenar-se — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Dutch: woelen — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Icelandic: bylta sér — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Māori: okeoke — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Russian: воро́чаться (voróčatʹsja) — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Russian: поворо́чаться (povoróčatʹsja) — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: dar vueltas en la cama — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: revolverse — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: pasar la noche en duermevela — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: pasar la noche en dormivela — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: rodar — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: rolar — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: retorcerse — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Spanish: escrucarse — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Swedish: vrida och vända — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position
  • Sylheti: ꠌꠣꠐꠤꠀꠘꠤ (saṭiani) — be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position