TURN AWAY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does turn away mean? 

• TURN AWAY (verb)
  The verb TURN AWAY has 4 senses:

1. move so as not face somebody or something

2. turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest

3. refuse entrance or membership

4. turn away or aside

  Familiarity information: TURN AWAY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TURN AWAY (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move so as not face somebody or something

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "turn away" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bend; deflect; turn away

Hypernyms (to "turn away" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Refuse entrance or membership

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

refuse; reject; turn away; turn down

Context example:

Black people were often rejected by country clubs

Verb group:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Turn away or aside

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

avert; turn away

Context example:

They averted their eyes when the King entered

Hypernyms (to "turn away" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Their choice is made, and they turn away hand-in-hand, with their backs to the darkness and their faces to the light.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Your complexion is so improved!—and you have gained so much countenance!—and your figure—nay, Fanny, do not turn away about it—it is but an uncle.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She ran along the sea beach, believing the old boat was theer; and calling out to us to turn away our faces, for she was a-coming by.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He smiled his twisted smile, and Maud, her eyes wide with horror, was compelled to turn away her head.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Then, hardly daring to look and yet unable to turn away my eyes, I saw a figure dimly outlined in the corner upon which the stair opened.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The squire, at this, would turn away and march up and down the deck, chin in air.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Anne was obliged to turn away, to rise, to walk to a distant table, and, leaning there in pretended employment, try to subdue the feelings this picture excited.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Thank heaven that I had the sense to turn away from him and to marry a better, if poorer, man.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No;—not less when I knew you to be unhappy, than when I had believed you at ease, did I turn away from every exertion of duty or friendship; scarcely allowing sorrow to exist but with me, regretting only THAT heart which had deserted and wronged me, and leaving you, for whom I professed an unbounded affection, to be miserable for my sake.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Woodhouse had been safely seated long enough to give the history of it, besides all the history of his own and Isabella's coming, and of Emma's being to follow, and had indeed just got to the end of his satisfaction that James should come and see his daughter, when the others appeared, and Mrs. Weston, who had been almost wholly engrossed by her attentions to him, was able to turn away and welcome her dear Emma.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)