turn back

1. Reverse one's direction, as in We had to turn back earlier than expected . [First half of 1500s]

2. 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]

3. 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

“As I was crossing the bridge close to the hospital,” she later remembered, “an aftershock hit and the bridge swayed wildly. If the bridge collapsed, I knew I’d die...so I turned back.”

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“You don’t understand this feeling of terror until it’s in front of you. Then, there’s no turning back.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Across the river on a span built by Romans and following the path through firs and beech, we soon reach a bend where the Irati turns back south.

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The receiver looks these numbers up in the codebook, and the message is turned back into plain language.

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Because when the crowd turned back to the ocean, they saw that the poison tide was spreading through the water and slowly surrounding the island.

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Related Words

• acknowledge 
• act 
• answer 
• behave 
• counter 
• feel 
• perform 
• proceed 
• reply 
• revert