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turn over

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

Flip something upside down, or give something to someone else.

Literal meaning: To rotate or flip something so its other side faces up.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To flip something so that its other side is facing up or outward.

"She turned over the pancake when bubbles appeared on the surface."

"He turned over a new leaf after his release from prison."

— Common idiom; widely used in literature and journalism
Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To transfer something, especially property or a suspect, to someone in authority.

"The police asked the company to turn over all documents related to the fraud."

"He agreed to turn over his passport to the authorities."

— Common journalistic usage
Grammar: separable
3 B1 neutral

To start an engine, or (of an engine) to start running.

"He turned the key but the engine wouldn't turn over in the cold weather."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic neutral

To generate a certain amount of money in business over a period of time.

"The small bakery turns over about £200,000 a year."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

In business, 'turnover' (noun) refers to revenue or staff replacement rate. 'Turn over a new leaf' is a fixed idiom meaning to change one's behavior for the better. In American English, a 'turnover' is also a pastry.

Commonly used with

leaf engine control suspect stone page

Forms

Base
turn over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
turns over
he/she/it
Past simple
turned over
yesterday
Past participle
turned over
have + pp
-ing form
turning over
continuous

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Synonyms

flip over hand over transfer surrender invert relinquish

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