Here are 30 phrasal verbs with **turn**, along with detailed explanations and examples:
1. **turn up** – **to arrive or appear, often unexpectedly, or to increase the volume or intensity**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction or adjust.”
**Extended meaning:** “up” adds the sense of increasing or appearing.
• _She turned up at the party without an invitation._ (She appeared unexpectedly.)
• _Can you turn up the volume? I can’t hear the music._ (The speaker is asking to increase the sound.)
2. **turn down** – **to reject or lower the volume or intensity**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction or adjust.”
**Extended meaning:** “down” adds the sense of decreasing or refusing.
• _He turned down the job offer because it wasn’t a good fit._ (He rejected the offer.)
• _Could you turn down the TV? It’s too loud._ (The speaker is asking to lower the volume.)
3. **turn on** – **to activate or switch on something, or to become interested in or excited by something**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction or position.”
**Extended meaning:** “on” adds the sense of starting or activating.
• _She turned on the lights when it got dark._ (She activated the lights.)
• _That documentary really turned him on to history._ (It sparked his interest in history.)
4. **turn off** – **to deactivate or switch off something, or to cause someone to lose interest**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction or position.”
**Extended meaning:** “off” adds the sense of stopping or deactivating.
• _Don’t forget to turn off the oven after cooking._ (Deactivate the oven.)
• _His rude comments really turned me off._ (His comments caused me to lose interest.)
5. **turn around** – **to reverse direction or improve a situation**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction.”
**Extended meaning:** “around” adds the sense of completely reversing or changing.
• _We turned around when we realized we were going the wrong way._ (We changed direction.)
• _The new manager turned the company around in just a year._ (The manager improved the company’s performance.)
6. **turn in** – **to submit something, or to go to bed**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change position.”
**Extended meaning:** “in” adds the sense of submitting or retiring.
• _Please turn in your homework by Friday._ (Submit your homework.)
• _I’m tired; I think I’ll turn in early tonight._ (The speaker plans to go to bed early.)
7. **turn out** – **to result in a particular way, or to attend an event**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change or transform.”
**Extended meaning:** “out” adds the sense of producing a result or appearing.
• _The event turned out better than we expected._ (It had a better result.)
• _A large crowd turned out for the concert._ (A lot of people attended.)
8. **turn away** – **to refuse entry or reject someone**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to direct elsewhere.”
**Extended meaning:** “away” adds the sense of refusing or denying entry.
• _They turned away people without tickets at the door._ (They refused entry to those without tickets.)
• _She was turned away from the interview because she was late._ (She was rejected for being late.)
9. **turn against** – **to stop supporting someone and become opposed to them**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change position.”
**Extended meaning:** “against” adds the sense of becoming hostile or unsupportive.
• _The public turned against the politician after the scandal._ (The public stopped supporting the politician.)
• _He turned against his former business partner after their disagreement._ (He became opposed to his partner.)
10. **turn into** – **to transform or change into something different**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change.”
**Extended meaning:** “into” adds the sense of becoming something else.
• _The caterpillar turned into a butterfly._ (It transformed into a butterfly.)
• _Her hobby turned into a successful business._ (It evolved into a business.)
11. **turn up at** – **to arrive unexpectedly or without planning**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to arrive or appear.”
**Extended meaning:** “up at” adds the sense of arriving at a specific place.
• _She turned up at my house without warning._ (She appeared unexpectedly at the house.)
• _He turned up at the office after being absent for a week._ (He arrived at the office suddenly.)
12. **turn down for** – **to reject someone or something for a specific reason**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to refuse or reject.”
**Extended meaning:** “down for” adds the sense of declining because of something specific.
• _She was turned down for the job due to lack of experience._ (She was rejected for the job.)
• _He turned down the invitation for personal reasons._ (He declined the invitation.)
13. **turn to** – **to seek help, advice, or support from someone**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to direct attention or focus.”
**Extended meaning:** “to” adds the sense of directing oneself toward someone or something.
• _When she was in trouble, she turned to her friends for help._ (She sought help from her friends.)
• _He turned to his mentor for career advice._ (He asked his mentor for advice.)
14. **turn off by** – **to be repelled or lose interest because of something**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to stop or lose interest.”
**Extended meaning:** “off by” adds the sense of being repelled by a specific factor.
• _She was turned off by his rude behavior._ (His behavior made her lose interest.)
• _The noise turned me off from studying in the café._ (The noise repelled me from studying there.)
15. **turn up with** – **to arrive somewhere carrying something**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to arrive.”
**Extended meaning:** “up with” adds the sense of arriving with something in hand.
• _He turned up with flowers for her birthday._ (He arrived carrying flowers.)
• _She turned up with a delicious cake at the party._ (She brought a cake to the party.)
16. **turn down on** – **to decrease the intensity of something for a specific purpose**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to reduce or lower.”
**Extended meaning:** “down on” adds the sense of reducing for a particular reason.
• _They turned down the lights on stage to create a more intimate atmosphere._ (They reduced the lighting for ambiance.)
• _Can you turn down the heat on the stove? It’s too high for simmering._ (The speaker asks to lower the stove’s heat.)
17. **turn up the heat** – **to increase pressure or intensity on a situation**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to increase.”
**Extended meaning:** “up the heat” adds the sense of intensifying pressure.
• _The coach turned up the heat on the team before the final game._ (The coach increased the pressure.)
• _The company turned up the heat on its competitors with a new product launch._ (The company increased the competition.)
18. **turn out to be** – **to result in becoming something or someone unexpected**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change or result.”
**Extended meaning:** “out to be” adds the sense of revealing an unexpected result.
• _The event turned out to be a huge success._ (The result was successful.)
• _The shy student turned out to be a great leader._ (He became something unexpected.)
19. **turn down the chance** – **to refuse or reject an opportunity**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to refuse.”
**Extended meaning:** “down the chance” adds the sense of declining an opportunity.
• _She turned down the chance to work abroad._ (She rejected the opportunity.)
• _He turned down the chance to meet the celebrity._ (He declined the offer.)
20. **turn in for the night** – **to go to bed or retire for sleep**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change state.”
**Extended meaning:** “in for the night” adds the sense of ending the day by going to sleep.
• _After a long day, I’m ready to turn in for the night._ (The speaker is ready to go to bed.)
• _We turned in early because we had to wake up early the next day._ (They went to bed early.)
21. **turn up missing** – **to be found missing or unaccounted for**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to appear or be found.”
**Extended meaning:** “up missing” adds the sense of being discovered as absent.
• _The keys turned up missing after the party._ (The keys were found to be missing.)
• *Several important documents turned up
missing after the audit.* (Documents were discovered missing.)
22. **turn over** – **to transfer responsibility or control to someone else**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change hands or direction.”
**Extended meaning:** “over” adds the sense of handing off or transferring.
• _He turned over the keys to the new owner of the house._ (He gave the keys to the new owner.)
• _The manager turned over the project to her team._ (She transferred control of the project.)
23. **turn against someone** – **to become hostile toward someone who was once trusted**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change position or attitude.”
**Extended meaning:** “against someone” adds the sense of becoming hostile toward a person.
• _He turned against his best friend after a major argument._ (He became hostile toward his friend.)
• _The public turned against the celebrity after the scandal._ (The public stopped supporting the celebrity.)
24. **turn in someone** – **to report someone to the authorities**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to deliver or hand over.”
**Extended meaning:** “in someone” adds the sense of handing someone over to the authorities.
• _He turned in the thief to the police._ (He reported the thief to the authorities.)
• _She turned herself in after hearing the police were looking for her._ (She reported herself to the police.)
25. **turn away from** – **to refuse to engage or support someone or something**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change direction or focus.”
**Extended meaning:** “away from” adds the sense of refusing to participate.
• _She turned away from the offer because it didn’t align with her values._ (She refused the offer.)
• _The company turned away from environmentally harmful practices._ (They stopped engaging in those practices.)
26. **turn up missing** – **to be discovered as missing or lost**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to be found.”
**Extended meaning:** “up missing” adds the sense of being discovered absent.
• _The package turned up missing after the delivery._ (It was discovered that the package was lost.)
• _Several files turned up missing during the audit._ (The files were found to be absent.)
27. **turn someone down flat** – **to reject someone completely without consideration**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to refuse.”
**Extended meaning:** “down flat” adds the sense of rejecting in a definitive way.
• _She turned him down flat when he asked her out._ (She rejected him without hesitation.)
• _The bank turned us down flat for the loan._ (The loan application was completely rejected.)
28. **turn over a new leaf** – **to make a fresh start or change one’s behavior**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change.”
**Extended meaning:** “over a new leaf” adds the sense of starting anew.
• _He’s turning over a new leaf and focusing on his health._ (He’s making a fresh start with his lifestyle.)
• _She decided to turn over a new leaf and be more organized at work._ (She’s making a positive change.)
29. **turn the tables** – **to reverse a situation to gain an advantage**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to change position or direction.”
**Extended meaning:** “the tables” adds the sense of reversing roles or situations.
• _They turned the tables on their competitors by launching a surprise product._ (They gained the advantage.)
• _The underdog team turned the tables in the second half and won the game._ (They reversed their disadvantage.)
30. **turn up the volume** – **to increase the sound level**
**Base meaning:** “turn” means “to adjust.”
**Extended meaning:** “up the volume” adds the sense of increasing the intensity of sound.
• _Can you turn up the volume? I can’t hear the music._ (The speaker asks to increase the sound.)
• _They turned up the volume on the speaker system at the party._ (They made the sound louder.)
These 30 phrasal verbs with **turn** illustrate various uses, from physically turning objects to metaphorical meanings like changing opinions or circumstances. The explanations and examples will help you use them effectively in different contexts.