turn around
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle around
Meanings
Move so you face the other direction
Why “around”? Something turns around a centre to face a new direction.
“Turn around. Your zip is open.”
“Turn around so I can fix your collar.”
“She turned around when I called her name.”
Improve a situation that was failing
“She turned the company around.”
“The new coach turned the team around.”
Don't confuse with
Turn around means move so you face the other direction. Turn away means refuse to allow someone to enter.
Test yourself
“Turn around. Your zip is open.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn away
A contrast learners often mix up
Refuse to allow someone to enter; Move your face or eyes from someone or something
come around
Same around pattern: circle
Visit someone at their home; Regain consciousness after fainting or anaesthesia; Eventually agree to or accept an idea; (of an event) recur on a regular schedule
go around
Same around pattern: circle
Take a longer path to avoid something; Move in a circular path; Be enough for everyone in a group; Behave in a particular way habitually; (of an illness) be common in a community
look around
Same around pattern: circle
Glance in every direction; Move your eyes to look at all parts of a place; Visit a place to see what is there, especially before deciding to buy
revolve around
Same around pattern: circle
Move in a circular orbit around something
spin around
Same around pattern: circle
Rotate quickly on the spot
swing around
Same around pattern: circle
Pivot quickly in a wide arc
twirl around
Same around pattern: circle
Rotate gracefully in place
Practice “turn around” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.