turn to
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive or intransitive):
- To direct one's interest, attention, or efforts towards something or someone: To start focusing on or using a particular thing, person, or activity, often as a source of help, comfort, or information.
- To begin to do or use something, especially as a new choice or alternative: To adopt a new course of action, belief, or habit, often after stopping or failing with a previous one.
Usage and Examples
To direct attention/effort towards a source of help or information:
- When she had a problem, she would always turn to her best friend for advice.
- Many students turn to online tutorials for extra help with difficult subjects.
To adopt or start using something as a new alternative or resource:
- After his injury, he turned to writing as a new career.
- During the economic crisis, some people turned to growing their own food.
To change one's focus or allegiance to a different subject, person, or ideology:
- The conversation turned to plans for the upcoming holiday.
- In his later years, the artist turned to abstract forms of expression.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"Turn to [someone]" for emotional or practical support: Implies relying on someone trusted.
- In times of grief, it's natural to turn to family.
"Turn to [something]" as a last resort: Suggests the action is taken when other options have failed or are unavailable.
- With traditional medicine ineffective, he turned to experimental treatments.
"Turn to [page/chapter]": A specific instruction to find information in a book or document.
- For the instructions, please turn to page 15.
Variants and Related Words
- Turn (verb): To change direction or position. (e.g., )
- Turning point (noun): A moment of significant change. (e.g., )
- Return to (phrasal verb): To go back to a previous state or activity. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Resort to: To use or do something, especially something bad, because no other option is available.
- Consult: To seek information or advice from someone.
- Refer to: To look at or in something for information.
- Look to: To depend on someone or something for help or advice.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Turn into: To change or transform into something else.
- The old factory turned into luxury apartments.
- Turn against: To become opposed or hostile to someone or something.
- Public opinion turned against the policy.
- Turn over: To give something to someone in authority; to start an engine.
- He turned over the evidence to the police.
Related Idioms
- Turn to dust/ashes: To end in complete failure or ruin; to become worthless.
- All his ambitious plans turned to dust.
- Turn to good account: To use a situation or resource to one's advantage.
- She managed to turn the criticism to good account by improving her work.
Verb
- direct one's interest or attention towards; go into
- The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction
- People turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium
- speak to
- He addressed the crowd outside the window