Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to turn against

to turn against

77 3.8
To start opposing someone you once supported
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɜrn əˈɡɛnst/
translation icon : volverse contra
  • Yeah, this is exactly what she wants, to make us turn against each other.
  • turn against public opinion
  • people turn against
  • turn against one's own

Why would someone want to turn against their own country?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Isn't it amazing how quickly everyone can turn against you?

    Independence Day (1996)

  • I will never turn against our son.

    Brightburn (2019)

  • Why would someone want to turn against their own country?

    Stanford

  • What would make your own company turn against you like that?

    Megyn Kelly

  • Lot of people turn against him on the left on this issue.

  • Our culture has turned against men, obviously.

  • Because people all over the planet are turning against Israel.

    Lex Fridman

  • - Seems like, seems like the whole town's turning against us.

    The Dalton Gang (2020)

  • The people of Afghanistan turned against the Taliban for the same reason.

    Academic text (2008)

  • You once believed in him, but now he has turned against you.

Synonyms

to oppose
vsto turn against
∞ 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

involves beginning hostility or rejection, not only general opposition
to go against
vsto turn against
206 3.3

To act against a rule, law, or popular opinion

means starting to oppose or be hostile rather than breaking rules
to turn one's back on
vsto turn against
81 5.1

Choose not to be involved with someone or something anymore

starts opposing or becoming hostile rather than just ignoring
to turn away from
vsto turn against
15 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

begins active opposition or hostility instead of mere avoidance
to sour on
vsto turn against
  • Informal
5 7.4

To start to dislike someone or something

becomes actively opposed or hostile rather than mildly unfavorable

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

to accept
793 1.0

To take something someone offers, for example a gift or invitation

How Hostile

to hate
∞ 1.0
to reject
839 1.9
to turn against
77 3.8
to oppose
∞ 2.9
to disapprove
94 2.9

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

turn + against

The meaning 'to start to oppose or become hostile toward' is directly derivable from combining 'turn' (redirect one's attention/support) with 'against' (expressing opposition). This verb + preposition composition follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern of indicating a change into opposition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Turn against comes from a simple picture: someone who once stood with you turns away and stands against you. So the physical change from support to opposition helps explain why it means 'to start to oppose or reject' someone or something.