turn back

verb

turned back; turning back; turns back

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go in the reverse direction

b

: to stop going forward

2

: to refer to an earlier time or place

transitive verb

1

: to drive back or away

2

: to stop the advance of

3

: to fold back

4

: give back, return

Phrases

turn back the clock

: to revert to or remind of a condition existing in the past

Synonyms

• beat off
• fend (off)
• rebut
• repel
• repulse
• stave off
• turn away

Examples of turn back in a Sentence

a cavalry charge that was turned back by withering fire

Recent Examples on the Web

That doesn’t make headlines in the same way that turning back the clocks will–which is why tax measures are often tied to non-tax measures, like expanding the DST. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Dressed in a yellow T-shirt and jeans and wearing a backpack, Edgar is seen in the video suddenly turning back into the crowd and firing a handgun. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Arbitrary changes in rules, down to nail clippers removed at a checkpoint and the truck turned back. —Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

After the snap, Horn turned back toward the sideline and kept yelling. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

turn back

verb

1

: to go in the reverse direction : return

turned back for home

2

: to stop the advance of : check

turned back the enemy