turn over

You move something so its other side faces up, or move your body onto the other side.

• Turn over the page.
• He turned over in bed.
• She turned the pancakes over when the edges were brown.

How to use it: turn something over (Turn the card over to see the answer.)

Similar words: flip over

Common phrases: turn over something, turn over a card, turn over in bed

You give something to someone else, giving up your possession or control of it.

• Please turn over the keys.
• She turned the evidence over to the police.
• The soldiers were ordered to turn over their weapons.

How to use it: turn something over to someone (They turned the stolen goods over to the police.)

Similar words: hand over, surrender, give up

Opposites: retain

Common phrases: turn over something, turn over the evidence, turn over control, turn over a business

You think carefully about an idea, question, or problem.

• I need time to turn over your suggestion.
• She turned the problem over in her mind.
• He kept turning over the idea as he walked home.

How to use it: turn something over in your mind (I turned the question over in my mind all evening.)

Similar words: consider, think over, ponder

Common phrases: turn over an idea, turn over a question

You search a place roughly, moving things around and often leaving a mess.

• Burglars turned over the house.
• I turned the whole room over looking for my keys.
• They had turned over every drawer but found nothing valuable.

Similar words: ransack

Common phrases: turn over a room, turn over the house

A business or machine produces or deals with a certain amount of work in a period of time.

• The factory can turn over hundreds of units daily.
• This restaurant turns over its tables twice each evening.
• They turn over fresh stock every week.

Similar words: process

Common phrases: turn over stock, turn over units, turn over tables