Phrase guide

turn back

verb · 12 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 reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Realising he had forgotten his briefcase, he turned back and re-entered the office.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: about turn, about face

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause to reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The barrage of machine-gun fire turned back the encroaching soldiers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To return to a previous state of being.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He stopped drinking for a couple of years, but now he has turned back to his old ways.
  • Once we take this decision, there's no turning back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To prevent, or refuse to allow, passage or progress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The soldiers turned back all the refugees at the frontier.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drive away, repel, turn away, stop

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To adjust to a previous setting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • In Autumn we normally turn the clocks back one hour.
  • I love that song: turn back to it!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To fold something back; to fold down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • When you make the bed, please always turn the sheet back over the blanket.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To give back; to return.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

turn inside out or upside down

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: invert, reverse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

9

verb

Meaning 9

go back to a previous state

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We reverted to the old rules

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: revert, return, retrovert, regress

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change by reversal, turn, reverse

Narrower terms: relapse, lapse, recidivate, regress, retrogress, fall back, resile, recover, go back, recuperate

10

verb

Meaning 10

hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Arrest the downward trend
  • Check the growth of communism in South East Asia
  • Contain the rebel movement
  • Turn back the tide of communism

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: check, arrest, stop, contain, hold back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: defend

Narrower terms: cut down, cut out

11

verb

Meaning 11

force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Drive away potential burglars
  • drive away bad thoughts
  • dispel doubts
  • The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chase away, drive out, drive away, dispel, drive off, run off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move, displace

Narrower terms: frighten, fire, clear the air, banish, shoo off, shoo, shoo away

12

verb

Meaning 12

retrace one's course

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The hikers got into a storm and had to turn back

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backtrack, double back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: return

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: returniĝi — reverse direction