How to Use turn back in a Sentence

turn back

verb
  • The three groups took their case to the appeals court but were turned back.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024
  • Votto, the 37-year-old who continues to turn back the clock, was at the top of the list.
    Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2021
  • There is no stopping this slow ebbing, no way to turn back the clock.
    Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2021
  • In one snap, Vergara turned back to hold up the peace sign and smile for the camera.
    Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023
  • Advertisement Michalek turned back to the man in the yarmulke.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Nix knows that the acclaim could turn back into scorn as the leaves start to brown.
    Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 31 Oct. 2021
  • Henry turns back to him, his eyes silver in the wash of the streetlight.
    Town & Country, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Crew members tried to get to the lower decks but were turned back by flames.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2023
  • Cher turned back time to the '80s for a skit during an appearance on The Tonight Show.
    Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023
  • Two birds are on the hunt to turn back time and take turkey off the Thanksgiving menu.
    Alesandra Dubin, Good Housekeeping, 14 Aug. 2022
  • Superman flies around the world fast enough to turn back time.
    Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2021
  • The rescuers had to turn back because of the rough seas, the authorities said.
    Paolo Santalucia and Luigi Navarra, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2023
  • The group had to turn back twice, facing threats, gunfire and a bombing.
    Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 May 2022
  • Anne and Wentworth are able to turn back the clock, but not through an effort of will.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022
  • To the south, wetlands were restored to turn back the clock to when the river wasn’t confined to a straight path.
    John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Jan. 2023
  • Strapped for cash and resources, Democrats are trying to turn back the red tide.
    Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2022
  • But within just a couple of years, the tide was turning back.
    Leah Donnella, NPR, 18 May 2024
  • So it was either push forward in search of gas or turn back home.
    Jordan Greene, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
  • But Jenkins intercepted a pass in the end zone to turn back the threat.
    Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 23 Dec. 2021
  • In a field of bare red dirt in São Paulo state, Paula Costa is trying to turn back the clock.
    Time, 3 Jan. 2023
  • Ellie has chance after chance to turn back, to let go of her pain and begin to heal.
    WIRED, 18 Oct. 2022
  • Couldn’t turn back the clock to October when the air was warmer and the mood happier.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
  • That’s not the only way in which the awards industry is hoping to turn back the clock.
    Vulture, 29 Sep. 2022
  • Throg is likely what happened in the timeline where Thor couldn’t turn back and was pruned by the TVA.
    Zoe Haylock, Vulture, 12 July 2021
  • Time is running out, and Big Jim Thompson can’t turn back the clock this time.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Sep. 2022
  • In the movie, Ripper’s bombers can’t be turned back or even reached without a code that the general has brought with him to the grave.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2024
  • Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport said two flights had been axed and a further two flights had to turn back around.
    Reuters, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2023
  • If not, the Rangers would likely turn back to lefty Kolby Allard.
    Evan Grant, Dallas News, 1 June 2021
  • The ambulance attempting to reach Mr. Bawaqneh’s home was shot at twice and was forced to turn back.
    Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2023
  • If the duo needs to cross a gap, the player will need to make the first move and turn back to call Neva, who’s unsure of her footing.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turn back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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