tɜːrn əˈraʊnd
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- turn
- Particle:
- around
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "turn around" mean?
- To rotate to face the opposite direction
- To change a bad situation into a good one; to improve significantly
- To complete a task or process within a certain time
Examples
- Turn around so I can see the back of your dress.
- The new CEO managed to turn the company around in just two years.
- We can turn around your order within 48 hours.
- The economy has finally turned around after the recession.
- Don't turn around! There's a surprise behind you.
How to use it
'Turnaround' (one word) as a noun refers to the time needed to complete something or a dramatic improvement. Business contexts often use 'turn around' for recovery.
Word order
When meaning rotate: not separable. When meaning improve a situation: separable with objects like 'business', 'company'.
Similar expressions
reverse
rotate
improve
transform
recover
Opposites
continue
persist
decline
Related phrasal verbs
- turn on
To start a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- turn off
To stop a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- turn out
To have a particular result or end in a certain way
- turn down
To reduce the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- turn into
To change or transform into something different
Use it in a practice answer
Try "turn around" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.