by turns

turn

B b

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [turn]
- /tɜrn/
- /baɪ tɜːnz/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [turn]
- /tɜrn/

Definitions of by turns words

phrase by turns You can use by turns to indicate that someone has two particular emotions or qualities, one after the other. 3
noun by turns one after another; alternately 3
noun by turns one after another; alternately; in succession 3
verb with object by turns to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel. 1
verb with object by turns to cause to move around or partly around, as for the purpose of opening, closing, or tightening: to turn a key; to turn the cap of a jar. 1
verb with object by turns to reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page; to turn an egg; to turn a person around. 1

See all 117 definitions of by turns

Information block about the term

Origin of by turns

First appearance:

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; (v.) Middle English turnen, partly continuing Old English turnian, tyrnan < Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe, round off (derivative of tornus lathe < Greek tórnos tool for making circles), partly < Old French torner, t(o)urner < Latin, as above; (noun) Middle English, partly derivative of the v., partly < Anglo-French *torn, t(o)urn; Old French tor, t(o)ur < Latin tornus, as above

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for By turns

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of By turns

by turns popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

by turns usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for by turns

adv by turns

alternately — in an alternating sequence or position

Just one Synonym for by turns