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.
For now, however, the evidence points to an experimental pathway worth investigating, not a supplement proven to turn back human aging.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
OpenAI is now trying to seize on its recent momentum to turn back the tables in the AI race.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
In a statement, the BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio presenter said: "As Freddie Mercury once sang, you can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide. Ain't that a shame".
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Iran did not claim responsibility, but a report on Iranian state television said the Qatari tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings to turn back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
One of them starts to turn back around, and I slam my eyes shut.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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.
