turnover

1 of 3

noun

turn·​over ˈtərn-ˌō-vər How to pronounce turnover (audio)
1
a(1)
: the amount received in sales for a stated period
(2)
: the ratio of sales for a stated period to average inventory
(3)
: a cycle of purchase, sale, and replacement of a stock of goods
b
: the number of persons hired within a period to replace those leaving or dropped from a workforce
also : the ratio of this number to the number in the average force maintained
c
: movement (as of goods or people) into, through, and out of a place
2
: the amount of business done
especially : the volume of shares traded on a stock exchange
3
: the act or an instance of a team's losing possession of a ball through error or a minor violation of the rules (as in basketball or football)
4
: a filled pastry made by folding half of the crust over the other half
5
: an act or result of turning over : upset
6
: a turning from one side, place, or direction to its opposite : shift, reversal
7
: a reorganization with a view to a shift in personnel : shake-up
8
: something that is turned over
9
: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (such as a cell or tissue) of a living system

turnover

2 of 3

adjective

: capable of being turned over

turn over

3 of 3

verb

turned over; turning over; turns over

transitive verb

1
a
: to turn from an upright position : overturn
b
: rotate
turn over a stiff valve with a wrench
also : to cause (an internal combustion engine) to begin firing
2
: deliver, surrender
I'm turning the job over to you
also : to lose possession of
turned the ball over three times
3
a
: to do business to the amount of
turning over $1000 a week
b
: to receive and dispose of (a stock of merchandise)
4
: to search (clothes, papers, etc.) by lifting or moving one by one
5
: to read or examine (something, such as a book) slowly or idly

intransitive verb

1
2
a
: rotate
b
of an engine : to have crankshaft rotation especially by external means (as by a starter)
the engine turned over but didn't start
3
a
of one's stomach : to heave with nausea
b
of one's heart : to seem to leap or lurch convulsively with sudden fright
Phrases
turn over a new leaf
: to make a change for the better especially in one's way of living

Examples of turnover in a Sentence

Noun The company had an increase in turnover this quarter. The company has a high turnover rate. We want to find ways to speed up inventory turnover. Verb reluctantly turned the ship over to the first mate while he went below to try to stop the leak turned the evidence over to the police
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Still, he’d been encouraged by the Lakers’ low turnover rates. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 The agency said that since 2021, the U.S. had been the second-most important trade partner for Germany behind China, but in the first half of 2024, foreign trade turnover with the U.S. was higher than that with China. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Justice Department, which has a longstanding policy to not prosecute officials for refusing to turn over subpoenaed information shielded under executive privilege, declined to take up the contempt referral. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2024 In January 1864, Smalls returned to his hometown and used the money he’d been awarded for turning over the Planter to buy his enslaver’s mansion. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for turnover 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of turnover was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near turnover

Cite this Entry

“Turnover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnover. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

turnover

1 of 2 noun
turn·​over
ˈtər-ˌnō-vər
1
: an act or the action of turning over
2
: a filled pastry with one half of the crust turned over the other
3
a
: movement (as of people) into, through, and out of a place
b
: the purchase, sale, and replacement of a stock of goods (as in a store)
c
: the number of persons hired to replace those leaving

turn over

2 of 2 verb
ˌtər-ˈnō-vər,
ˈtər-
1
: to shift in position from upright to upside down
2
a
: to give to another to take care of : hand over
b
: to lose possession of
turned the ball over three times
3
of one's stomach : to feel sick
4
: to begin or cause to begin to run
turned over the engine

Medical Definition

turnover

noun
turn·​over ˈtər-ˌnō-vər How to pronounce turnover (audio)
: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (as a neurotransmitter, cell, or tissue) of a living system
protein turnover in various pathological statesJ. C. Waterlow
hyperthyroidism accelerates bone turnover and shortens the normal bone remodeling cycleRichard Sadovsky

More from Merriam-Webster on turnover

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