English Dictionary

turn back

verb

(intransitive) To reverse direction and retrace one's steps. / (transitive) To cause to reverse direction and retrace one's steps. / To return to a previous state of being.

I need to turn back and get my phone.

意味（1）

(intransitive) To reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

Realising he had forgotten his briefcase, he turned back and re-entered the office.

意味（2）

(transitive) To cause to reverse direction and retrace one's steps.

The barrage of machine-gun fire turned back the encroaching soldiers.

意味（3）

To return to a previous state of being.

He stopped drinking for a couple of years, but now he has turned back to his old ways.

意味（4）

(transitive) To prevent or refuse to allow passage or progress.

The soldiers turned back all the refugees at the frontier.

意味（5）

(transitive) To adjust to a previous setting.

In Autumn we normally turn the clocks back one hour.

意味（6）

(transitive) To fold something back; to fold down.

When you make the bed, please always turn the sheet back over the blanket.

意味（7）

(obsolete, transitive) To give back; to return.

We turn not back the silks upon the merchants,When we have soiled them; nor the remainder viands.