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to turn on

to turn on

152 7.2
To make someone feel excited or interested
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɜrn ɑn/
  • NSFW
translation icon : excitar
  • Do I know what turns me on and do I know what turns me off?
  • talk turns me on

This means sort of being turned on visioning yourself as as a woman.

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Examples

  • The number one factor that turns men on is you being turned on.

  • I leaned over to him and whispered, "You're really turning me on."

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I mean, I just, I just get a little turned on at times.

  • I hear plenty of guys who tell me nothing turns me on more than to see her turned on.

  • In fact, it seems to have turned her on even more.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Think about something that really turns you on and then just rub down there.

    Blog text (30)
  • Dorky chicks like you turn me on too.

  • Arnold really turns her on and I just want to be there when it happens, that's all.

  • Her lumpy hips bulged against the shapeless black skirt as she turned her smile on me.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Seeing him smile always turns on and makes my day better.

Synonyms

to excite
vsto turn on
331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

includes sexual arousal as well as general excitement
to thrill
vsto turn on
201 2.1

To give a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure

is similar but covers general excitement rather than sudden spikes
to delight
vsto turn on
79 2.1

To please someone very much

is broader and includes sexual or intense stimulation
to charge
vsto turn on
54 4.1

Fill a place with strong feeling or energy

is similar but can be less intense or sudden
to arouse
vsto turn on
  • NSFW
42 6.6

Make someone feel sexual desire or excitement

is broader and also covers nonsexual stimulation
to rouse
vsto turn on
16 5.1

To make people feel strong emotion and want to act

is more active and motivational than simple stimulation
to titillate
vsto turn on
  • NSFW
8 8.3

Make someone feel a little excited in a playful or sexual way

is broader and includes strong or nonerotic excitement
to charge up
vsto turn on
  • Informal
4 4.8

To make people feel excited and ready to act

is broader, can mean milder stimulation too
to commove
vsto turn on
  • Archaic
9.9

To disturb people or things

is usually positive and causes pleasure rather than mere disturbance

Antonyms

15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

How Excited

to arouse
  • NSFW
42 6.6
to turn on
  • NSFW
152 7.2
to excite
331 2.7
to stimulate
236 3.7
to intrigue
143 5.1
to interest
206 1.0

Surface Forms

turn on infinitive
turned on past
turned on past participle
turning on present participle
turns on third person singular

Morphology

turn + on

The meaning 'to depend on' is not directly derivable from the literal senses 'turn' (to change) and 'on' (active/powered), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely not predict this sense. There is a loose, somewhat metaphorical link (turn + on/upon → be determined by), but the particle usage is idiomatic and less frequent, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

Turn on may come from the image of flipping a switch that lights up people’s feelings, so music or a speech can turn the crowd on. That's why it means 'to make someone feel excited or stimulated'.