turns (on) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of turn (on)
as in attacks
to take sudden, violent action against it is dangerous to keep tigers as house pets, as they often turn on their masters without warning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turns on

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of turn on
1
as in thrills
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings unsurprisingly, the fanboys were turned on by the movie's amazing special effects and slam-bang plot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in triggers
to cause to function would you turn on the TV?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turns (on)
Verb
Paula turns on a dime, expertly masks her horror, stress, and despair, and puts on a smile for her little girl. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 June 2026 Moving south, the route turns on Mill Creek Parkway to end at Theis Park. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 The plot turns on the mystery of a handkerchief that Othello gives to Desdemona. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 Before every important test, teacher Nancy Barajas dims the lights, turns on a disco ball and blasts music from her playlist. — CBS News, 13 May 2026 The Mobi Fold embraces its bendy nature and, sensibly, automatically turns on when opened up and turns off when it’s folded shut. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026 Phytic acid binds directly to HDAC3 and turns on its activity. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 After a few turns on the Superstar, Sp5der and Adidas are now looking to combine the retro aesthetics of soccer and running on a brand-new silhouette. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 June 2026 These priority zones focus on pedestrian traffic by installing crosswalks at all intersections, banning right turns on red lights, increasing crossing time, shading sidewalks, lowering speed limits and reducing driving lane widths. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turns (on)
  1. attacks
  2. thrills
  3. triggers
  4. assaults
  5. excites
  6. activates
  7. raids
  8. electrifies
Verb
  • This loss is often the result of an autoimmune process in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks those cells.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • The study surveyed blood donations for the disease’s key antibody, which is in a class dubbed IgE and specifically attacks a double-sugar molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose, also known as alpha-gal.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
Definition of attacks
Verb
  • Her strict economy, honed by her early years of writing and endlessly revising (under the exacting eye of Allene Talmey) tight captions for Vogue, thrills the editor in me.
    — Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The idea unnerves critics but thrills its architects.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
Definition of thrills
Verb
  • Chronic stress triggers elevated levels of the hormone cortisol, which can impair memory.
    — Zia Sherrell, Health, 7 July 2026
  • The biggest misstep newcomers make is treating a corporate event like a live resume drop—pitching their skills or collecting business cards like trophies, which immediately triggers executive fatigue.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of triggers
Verb
  • Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
    — Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
  • Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
Definition of assaults
Verb
  • That authenticity across the board, in addition to what the story is amplifying, excites Talwalkar to no end.
    — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
  • And more than its protein content, what excites Richter most about the popular crucifer is its abundance of fiber, vitamin C, and glucosinolates, which are plant compounds that are converted into sulforaphane, a phytochemical studied for its role in supporting cellular health and healthy aging.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 22 June 2026
Definition of excites
Verb
  • Rucking activates the upper trapezius, shoulders, upper back, abdominals, obliques and lower back, according to trainers and coaches who specialize in the method.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
  • Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
    — Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of activates
Verb
  • In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
  • In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Definition of raids
Verb
  • What starts as one state utility trying to see its own network more clearly could end up as part of the blueprint for how the developing world electrifies its future.
    — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • This transit electrifies creativity, romance, pleasure and self-expression.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of electrifies

Browse Nearby Words

turns off
turns (on)
turns on
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Cite this Entry

“Turns (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turns%20%28on%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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