turn away

phrasal-verb
UK: /tɜːn əˈweɪ/
US: /tɝːn əˈweɪ/

  1. To refuse to allow someone to enter a place or to have something.

    1. The club wouldn't turn away anyone who wants to join.
    2. They tried to enter the bar, but the bouncer had to turn them away because they were underage.

  2. To ignore or reject someone or something.

    1. She begged him for help, but he chose to turn away.
    2. The company cannot turn away from its responsibility to provide safe products to consumers.

Synonyms

reject decline refuse
turn away intransitive-verb

  1. To move your face so you are not looking at something.

    1. I had to turn away when I saw the accident.
    2. She couldn't bear to watch, so she turned away and covered her eyes with her hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "turn away" in English means: To refuse to allow someone to enter a place or to have something., To ignore or reject someone or something..

The phonetic transcription of "turn away" is /tɜːn əˈweɪ/ in British English and /tɝːn əˈweɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "turn away": reject, decline, refuse.

Example usage of "turn away": "The club wouldn't turn away anyone who wants to join.". More examples on the page.