Definition of Turn back

1. Verb. Retrace one's course. "The hikers got into a storm and had to turn back"

Exact synonyms: Backtrack, Double Back
Generic synonyms: Return

2. Verb. Go back to a previous state. "We reverted to the old rules"

3. Verb. Force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings. "The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers"
Exact synonyms: Chase Away, Dispel, Drive Away, Drive Off, Drive Out, Run Off
Specialized synonyms: Frighten, Fire, Clear The Air, Banish, Shoo, Shoo Away, Shoo Off
Generic synonyms: Displace, Move
Related verbs: Drive Out, Force Out, Rouse, Rout Out

4. Verb. Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of. "Turn back the tide of communism"
Exact synonyms: Arrest, Check, Contain, Hold Back, Stop
Specialized synonyms: Cut Down, Cut Out
Generic synonyms: Defend
Derivative terms: Containment, Containment, Stop

5. Verb. Turn inside out or upside down.
Exact synonyms: Invert, Reverse
Generic synonyms: Alter, Change, Modify
Derivative terms: Inversion, Inversion, Inverter, Reversal, Reversal, Reverse, Reversible

Definition of Turn back

1. Verb. (intransitive) To reverse direction and retrace one's steps. ¹

2. Verb. To return to a previous state of being. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To prevent or refuse to allow passage or progress. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To adjust to a previous setting. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To fold something back; to fold down ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Turn Back

turn a hair
turn a loss
turn a new leaf
turn a nice dime
turn a nice dollar
turn a nice penny
turn a phrase
turn a profit
turn about
turn against
turn and bank indicator
turn around
turn arounds
turn away
turn back
turn back the clock
turn down
turn down ratio
turn flukes
turn heads
turn in
turn in one's grave
turn indicator
turn inside-out
turn into
turn into a pumpkin
turn loose
turn of events

Literary usage of Turn back

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1814)
"... running after me, and calling out to me to turn back. I flopped until they were all come up ; when they informed me that the King of the ..."

2. The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by American Committee of Revision (1881)
"... I will turn back unto my house 25 whence I came out. Arid when 'he is come, ... turn back ..."

3. The Bookman (1907)
"We find it rather gratifying to turn back to that prediction. Miss Gale has become one of the most ZONA GALE ..."

4. Works by Washington Irving (1895)
"... and a Robbery— Indian Cure for Cowardice—The Despatch Party turn back—Meet Crooks and John Day—Indian Perfidy—Arrival at Astoria. AS the spring opened, ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Turn back on Dictionary.com!Search for Turn back on Thesaurus.com!Search for Turn back on Google!Search for Turn back on Wikipedia!

Search