Definition

1. 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

1. 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
2. speak to
   • He addressed the crowd outside the window