rotate

¹ American  

[roh-teyt, roh-teyt] / ˈroʊ teɪt, roʊˈteɪt /

verb (used with object)

rotated, rotating

1. to cause to turn around an axis or center point; revolve.

   Synonyms:

   whirl, wheel

2. to cause to go through a cycle of changes; cause to pass or follow in a fixed routine of succession.

   to rotate farm crops.

3. to replace (a person, troops, etc.) by another or others, usually according to a schedule or plan.

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verb (used without object)

rotated, rotating

1. to turn around on or as if on an axis.

2. to proceed in a fixed routine of succession.

   The sentries rotated in keeping watch.

rotate ² American  

[roh-teyt] / ˈroʊ teɪt /

adjective

1. wheel-shaped: applied especially to a gamopetalous short-tubed corolla with a spreading limb.

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rotate British  

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn around an axis, line, or point; revolve or spin

2. to follow or cause to follow a set order or sequence

3. (of a position, presidency, etc) to pass in turn from one eligible party to each of the other eligible parties

4. (of staff) to replace or be replaced in turn

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adjective

1. botany designating a corolla the united petals of which radiate from a central point like the spokes of a wheel

Related Words

See turn.

Other Word Forms

• nonrotatable adjective
• nonrotating adjective
• rotatable adjective
• rotatably adverb
• unrotated adjective
• unrotating adjective

Etymology

Origin of rotate¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin rotātus (past participle of rotāre “to cause to spin, roll, move in a circle”), equivalent to rot(a) “wheel” + -ātus -ate ¹

Origin of rotate²

1775–85; < Latin rot ( a ) wheel + -ate ¹

Explanation

Rotate means to circle around a center point. Wheels on a car rotate, planets rotate, and if you're an ice skater, you rotate on the blade of a skate when you do your spins. Rotate can also mean that you take turns performing a job. If you, Jim, and Shelia all got the same amount of votes in the class election, you could rotate the role of treasurer, meaning the position would pass from one to another in a regular pattern. Rotate can also refer to other things that are passed along in a regular order. You might rotate lawn duties with your brother — that means you mow the lawn one week and he mows it the next.

Example Sentences

Underperformance of secular growth stocks began in late 2025, according to Goldman, as expectations for strong economic growth in 2026 led investors to rotate toward cyclical stocks with more exposure to the economy.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

There was little that Ed Barnard, in his first match as Warwickshire captain, could do but rotate his array of seamers in the hope of inducing errors.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Soft commodities, including corn and wheat, are showing renewed strength as investors rotate into these previously lagging areas.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

In that scenario, investors should rotate toward defensive stocks and companies with pricing power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

As the matter spirals into the black hole, it would make the black hole rotate in the same direction, causing it to develop a magnetic field rather like that of the earth.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Related Words

• pivot
• revolve
• spin
• swivel
• twirl
• twist
• whirl