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
They can also be caught out by mountain weather or continue it would be better to change plans or turn back.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Moroccan lawmakers have said the influx was more likely to have been triggered by a recent Spanish supreme court ruling that made it more difficult to turn back migrants if they arrive by sea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 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
I turn back to the vending machine and decide on the strawberry frosted Pop-Tarts, mostly cuz there’s two in the pack.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
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.
