rotate

1 of 2

adjective

ro·​tate ˈrō-ˌtāt 

: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel

rotate blue flowers

rotate

2 of 2

verb

ro·​tate ˈrō-ˌtāt 

 especially British  rō-ˈtāt

rotated; rotating

intransitive verb

1

a

: to perform an act, function, or operation in turn

b

: to pass or alternate in a series

2

: to turn about an axis or a center : revolve

especially : to move in such a way that all particles follow circles with a common angular velocity about a common axis

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center

b

: to cause (a plane region or line) to sweep out a volume or surface by moving around an axis so that each of its points remains at a constant distance from the axis

generate a torus by rotating a circle about an external line

2

: to cause to grow in rotation

rotate crops

3

: to cause to pass or act in a series : alternate

4

: to exchange (individuals or units) with others

rotatable

ˈrō-ˌtā-tə-bəl 

 also  rō-ˈtā-

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• pivot
• revolve
• roll
• spin
• swing
• swirl
• swivel
• turn
• twirl
• twist
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of rotate in a Sentence

Verb

As the gear rotates, it turns the other gears.

The Earth rotates on its axis.

The planets rotate around the sun.

The software allows you to rotate images.

Rotate the sheet of paper 90 degrees.

The staff rotates the weekend shift.

We rotate—she does the dishes one week; I do them the next.

You should rotate your car's tires once a year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When the wheel started rotating, participants on the outer edge of the circles started falling off due to the speed. —Rocky Sharma, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

The remaining plans all involve rotating the 55.9-meter (184-foot) yacht, which weighs 534 tons, nearly 90 degrees onto the seabed without removing the fuel or dismantling the 72-meter (236-foot) mast. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024

Inside, there are rotating screens that display Jeff’s artwork, along with an Iron Man costume replica. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2024

American Airlines fliers are treated to a rotating selection of offerings, so that each experience is a surprise. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin rota

Verb

Latin rotatus, past participle of rotare, from rota wheel — more at roll

First Known Use

Adjective

1760, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1757, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

rotate

verb

ro·​tate

ˈrō-ˌtāt

rotated; rotating

1

: to turn or cause to turn about an axis or a center

the earth rotates

2

a

: to do or cause to do something in turn

b

: to pass in a series

the seasons rotate

3

: to cause to grow one after the other on the same land

rotate alfalfa and corn

rotatable

-ˌtāt-ə-bəl

adjective

rotator

-ˌtāt-ər

noun

Medical Definition

rotate

verb

ro·​tate

ˈrō-ˌtāt, especially British rō-ˈ

rotated; rotating

intransitive verb

: to turn about an axis or a center

transitive verb

: to cause to turn about an axis or a center

rotate the head