: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel
rotate blue flowers
rotated; rotating
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
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
Synonyms
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
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Sometimes cards even rotate the spend categories quarterly.
—Erika Kullberg, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
By rotating through different roles, future leaders build relationships across teams and acquire a well-rounded perspective of how the business functions.
—True Tamplin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Bake: Bake in preheated oven, rotating baking sheets top to bottom halfway through bake time, until bottoms are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rotate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The Ravens needed to take care of business, build a comfortable enough lead to allow coach John Harbaugh to rotate liberally in the second half, avoid significant injuries and get back to Baltimore as soon as possible to start preparations for Saturday’s showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
—Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Sometimes cards even rotate the spend categories quarterly.
—Erika Kullberg, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
By rotating through different roles, future leaders build relationships across teams and acquire a well-rounded perspective of how the business functions.
—True Tamplin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Bake: Bake in preheated oven, rotating baking sheets top to bottom halfway through bake time, until bottoms are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes.
—Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rotate
Dictionary Entries Near rotate
Cite this Entry
“Rotate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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