turn away

verb

turned away; turning away; turns away

transitive verb

1

a

: to refuse admittance or acceptance to

b

: to send away : reject, dismiss

c

: repel

2

: deflect, avert

intransitive verb

: to start to go away : depart

Synonyms

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

Examples of turn away in a Sentence

using tree branches, the campers were able to turn away the charging fox, which was apparently rabid

Recent Examples on the Web

Many people, perhaps women most of all, have been quietly turning away from heterosexual partnership. —Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024

In total, 13 commits turned away from their pledge to the Trojans during this recruiting cycle, among the most of any program in the country. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024

This has led to an idea that people seeking to convert to Judaism should be turned away three times, or at least initially, to test their conviction. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

Holiday shopping has undergone several shifts over the years as many have turned away from traditional brick and mortar stores towards fast fashion and exclusively online shops. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

turn away

verb

: to refuse to let in : send away

all the seats were sold and a large crowd had to be turned away