turn against

verb

To rebel or oppose to something formerly supported.

“She turned against the wind.”

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Meanings

verbturn against (third-person singular simple present turns against, present participle turning against, simple past and past participle turned against)

present singular third person turns against · participle present turning against · participle past turned against · past turned against

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo rebel or oppose to something formerly supported.

    They turned against their leader.

  2. intransitivetransitiveTo set against or in opposition to something.

    She turned against the wind.

    2 more examples

    She turned her umbrella against the wind.

    She turned him against his friends.

  3. idiomatictransitiveTo use to the disadvantage or injury of.

    His argument was turned against him.

    1 more example

    They turned their arms against their former allies.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
turn on

Translations

Arabic اِنْقَلَبَ عَلَى
  • اِنْقَلَبَ عَلَى (inqalaba ʕalā)to become hostile towards when not hostile previously
Danish vende sig
  • vende sigto become hostile towards when not hostile previously
Japanese 突っ掛かる
  • 突っ掛かる (tsukkakaru)to become hostile towards when not hostile previously
Māori kairiri
  • kairirito become hostile towards when not hostile previously
Spanish volverse contra
  • volverse contrato become hostile towards when not hostile previously
Cite this entry
APA

turn against. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20against

MLA

“turn against.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20against. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turn against,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turn%20against.

Source: turn against on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.