turn on
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle on
Meanings
Make a device, light, or machine start working
Why “on”? A device starts working, a session or event begins, or a condition starts to develop.
“Maya turned on the printer at the community office.”
“Ben turned the oven on while I mixed the cake.”
“Maya turned on the backup office computer before the presentation.”
Memory hook
On — the power starts flowing.
Common mistake
Can you turn on it?
Can you turn it on?
A pronoun goes in the middle: turn it on, not turn on it.
Natural collocations
The word partners “turn on” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“Maya turned on the printer at the community office.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn in
A contrast learners often mix up
Go to bed for the night; Give work or an item to the person responsible for it
turn off
A contrast learners often mix up
Stop a device, light, or machine from operating; Make someone lose interest or feel dislike
bring on
Same on pattern: starting
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
click on
Same on pattern: starting
Activate by clicking
come on
Same on pattern: starting
Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Show romantic or sexual interest in someone, often in a direct way; Be broadcast on television or radio
flip on
Same on pattern: starting
Activate by flipping a control
go on
Same on pattern: starting
Continue happening or doing something; Happen or take place; Talk for a long time, often in a tedious way; Use information as the basis for an opinion; Begin to operate
log on
Same on pattern: starting
Sign in to a computer system
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “turn on”.
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “turn on” in Sink In
Drill “turn on” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
