turn over
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle over
Meanings
Rotate so that the other side faces up
Why “over”? The top moves to the bottom. The object turns over.
“Turn the page over.”
“Turn the card over to see the answer.”
“Turn the pancake over carefully.”
Hand a person or thing to authorities
Why “over”? Something moves from one person or side to another.
“He turned the suspect over to police.”
“The guard turned the phone over to police.”
“The shop turned its security video over to police.”
(of a business)Receive a particular amount of money from sales
Why “over”? A business produces a total amount of sales or income during a period.
“The shop turns over a million a year.”
“The cafe turns over thousands each week.”
(of an engine)Start running
Why “over”? An engine completes its first cycle and starts running.
“The engine wouldn't turn over.”
“After three tries, the old engine turned over.”
Don't confuse with
Turn over means rotate so that the other side faces up. Turn off means deactivate a device.
Test yourself
“Turn the page over.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
turn off
A contrast learners often mix up
Stop a device, light, or machine from operating; Make someone lose interest or feel dislike
boil over
Same over pattern: flip
(of liquid) Overflow while boiling
bowl over
Same over pattern: flip
Make someone fall, or astonish them completely
bring over
Same over pattern: transfer
Carry someone or something to a place near where the speaker is
call over
Same over pattern: transfer
Summon someone to come to where you are
carry over
Same over pattern: transfer
Continue from one period or place into the next
come over
Same over pattern: transfer
Visit someone's house or place; Be felt by someone suddenly; Give a particular impression; Change to support a different side or opinion
fall over
Same over pattern: flip
Topple from an upright position to the ground; Try very eagerly to do something ("fall over yourself")
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “turn over” in Sink In
Drill “turn over” 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.
