turnover

[ turn-oh-ver ]

/ ˈtɜrnˌoʊ vər /

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Definition of turnover

noun

an act or result of turning over; upset.

change or movement of people, as tenants or customers, in, out, or through a place: The restaurant did a lively business and had a rapid turnover.

the aggregate of worker replacements in a given period in a given business or industry.

the ratio of the labor turnover to the average number of employees in a given period.

the total amount of business done in a given time.

the rate at which items are sold, especially with reference to the depletion of stock and replacement of inventory: Things are slow now, but they expect an increased turnover next month.

the number of times that capital is invested and reinvested in a line of merchandise during a specified period of time.

the turning over of the capital or stock of goods involved in a particular transaction or course of business.

the rate of processing or the amount of material that has undergone a particular process in a given period of time, as in manufacturing.

a change from one position, opinion, etc., to another, often to one that is opposed to that previously held.

a reorganization of a political organization, business, etc., especially one involving a change or shift of personnel.

a baked or deep-fried pastry with a sweet or savory filling in which half the dough is turned over the filling and the edges sealed to form a semicircle or triangle.

Basketball, Football. the loss of possession of the ball to the opponents, through misplays or infractions of the rules.

adjective

that is or may be turned over.

having a part that turns over, as a collar.

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Origin of turnover

First recorded in 1605–15; noun use of verb phrase turn over

Words nearby turnover

turn one's stomach, turn on one's heel, turn on the waterworks, turnout, turn out all right, turnover, turn over a new leaf, turnover flap, turn over in one's grave, turnpike, turnround

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use turnover in a sentence

There’s a lot that goes into each, and Brady’s penchant for avoiding interceptions certainly has played a role in New England’s turnover numbers over the years.
Newton Can Replace Brady, But Can The Pats Replace Half Of Their Defense?|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 3, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Even his 11 turnovers couldn’t overshadow what was, again, a truly spectacular performance.
Monster Games In The NBA Playoffs Aren’t Automatically Translating To Wins|Jared Dubin|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Second-term presidents typically have near-total turnover of their Cabinet.
Sunday Magazine: Go Inside Trump’s Second Term|Daniel Malloy|August 23, 2020|Ozy
The company’s security guards can start at just above minimum wage, but agency leaders have also noted in recent years that the turnover is high.
MTS Says Its Officers Aren’t Bound by New State Use-of-Force Law|Jesse Marx and Lisa Halverstadt|June 25, 2020|Voice of San Diego

The tags mark game events of particular interest, such as turnovers — when a team loses possession of the ball to its opponent.
Why sports are becoming all about numbers — lots and lots of numbers|Silke Schmidt|May 21, 2020|Science News For Students
Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover.
Full Text of President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address||January 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Turnover was huge in the growing auto industry, as workers hopped from factory to factory in search of better wages.
Henry Ford Understood That Raising Wages Would Bring Him More Profit|Daniel Gross|January 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Politics, like football, is a game of inches, where a single turnover can cost you the game.
‘Last Supper’ Flap Dredges Up Ken Cuccinelli’s Demons|Lloyd Green|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
According to the Journal, the Gen Y turnover rate at Chegg dropped by 50 percent each year over two years.
Millennial males seek work-life balance too|Ellen Kampinsky|September 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
By contrast, the turnover rate for physicians at large practices was 6.8 percent in 2012.
How to Fix Health Care|Daniel Gross|August 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He wore a becoming gray suit without a waistcoat, and a blue négligé shirt, with a turnover collar and a blue tie.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
There seemed to be a fast turnover of businesses in Tetrahyde.
The Status Civilization|Robert Sheckley
A little geological turnover, a swampy land bridge formed in the right spot, and the lizards began to wander up beacon valley.
The Repairman|Harry Harrison
In order to make the head-dress in its 1509 state you must make the white lining with the jewelled turnover as a separate cap.
English Costume|Dion Clayton Calthrop
He wiped his face with his checked shirt-sleeve, and took a turnover from her hand, bowing very low as he did so.
Dotty Dimple's Flyaway|Sophie May

British Dictionary definitions for turnover

turn over

verb (adverb)

to change or cause to change position, esp so as to reverse top and bottom

to start (an engine), esp with a starting handle, or (of an engine) to start or function correctly

to shift or cause to shift position, as by rolling from side to side

(tr) to deliver; transfer

(tr) to consider carefullyhe turned over the problem for hours

(tr)

to sell and replenish (stock in trade)
to transact business and so generate gross revenue of (a specified sum)

(tr) to invest and recover (capital)

(tr) slang to rob

(tr) slang to defeat utterly

turn over a new leaf to reform; resolve to improve one's behaviour

noun turnover

the amount of business, usually expressed in terms of gross revenue, transacted during a specified period
(as modifier)a turnover tax

the rate at which stock in trade is sold and replenished

a change or reversal of position

a small semicircular or triangular pastry case filled with fruit, jam, etc

the number of workers employed by a firm in a given period to replace those who have left
the ratio between this number and the average number of employees during the same period

banking the amount of capital funds loaned on call during a specified period

adjective

(prenominal) able or designed to be turned or folded overa turnover collar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with turnover

turn over

Invert, bring the bottom to the top, as in We have to turn over the soil before we plant anything. [Second half of 1300s]

Shift position, as by rolling from side to side. For example, This bed is so narrow I can barely turn over. [First half of 1700s]

Rotate, cycle, as in The engine turned over but the car wouldn't start. [Early 1900s]

Think about, consider, as in She turned over the idea in her mind. [Early 1800s]

Transfer to another, surrender, as in I turned over the funds to the children. [Mid-1500s]

Do business to the extent or amount of, as in We hoped the company would turn over a million dollars the first year. [Mid-1800s]

Seem to lurch or heave convulsively, as in The plane hit an air pocket and my stomach turned over. [Second half of 1800s]

Replace or renew the constituent parts, as in Half of our staff turns over every few years. [Mid-1900s] Also see turn over a new leaf.