turn back
Idioms-
Reverse one's direction, as in We had to turn back earlier than expected . [First half of 1500s]
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Drive someone back or away, as in They turned back anyone who didn't have an invitation , or Our forces soon turned back the enemy . [First half of 1500s]
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Fold down, as in Turn back the page you're on to keep your place in the magazine . [Second half of 1800s] Also see turn one's back on .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before I weigh in on this as a mathematician, let’s turn back to Stanford.
From Slate • May 25, 2026
Asked if Trump would turn back to signing a revised executive order later, the White House referred Barron’s to Trump’s Oval Office comments.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
“MRED and Compass have colluded to turn back the clock on consumer transparency.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Well, one could ask for James to turn back time, but he’s already done that this spring.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
With every step closer, Ekon sensed it, a wrongness that implored him to turn back, but he forced his feet to move until he was within a foot of Father Olufemi.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
