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to turn into

to turn into

890 2.2
To change into something different or make something change
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɜrn ˈɪntu/
translation icon : convertirse en
  • After months of practice, the caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.
  • turn into gas
  • turn into a zone

So yeah, a couple months turned into a really long time.

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Examples

  • This carriage is about to turn into a pumpkin.

  • Another topic that might turn into an exhibition project is the notion of "first contact."

    Academic text (2008)
  • And all of that starts to turn into the new story.

  • And at some point this could turn into another another war.

  • How does this turn into something real?

  • Because this is going to turn into that, right?

  • This bag opens and turns into its own bag.

  • In short, the North American advantage has turned into the North American disadvantage.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Like this house will slowly turn into a Christmas Wonderland.

  • He's not going to turn into a stalker, is he?

Synonyms

to become
vsto turn into
1.0

Start to change into a different state or role

is also used to describe causing that change, not just starting it
to change
vsto turn into
1.0

To make something or someone different

is the neutral phrase for causing or becoming different generally
to transform
vsto turn into
523 3.4

Change something a lot so it looks or works very differently

is broader and can refer to smaller or less complete changes
to transition
vsto turn into
88 3.8

To change from one state or activity to another

focuses on the change outcome rather than the ongoing process
to convert
vsto turn into
65 3.7

Change something so it works in a different system

is the general act of becoming or causing a new form
to transmute
vsto turn into
8 7.5

To change something into a different form or material

is ordinary change, not necessarily altering underlying substance
to metamorphose
vsto turn into
5 8.2

Change completely in form or appearance

covers ordinary transformation as well as dramatic shifts
to transmogrify
vsto turn into
3 9.9

To change something into a very different form, often as if by magic

is plain change language without magical or whimsical sense
to refashion
vsto turn into
3 4.9

To change something into a new or different form

is general change language, not limited to crafted remaking
to shapeshift into
vsto turn into
  • Literature
9.4

Change into another form, like a person or animal, by magic

is everyday expression for becoming different, not supernatural change

Antonyms

1.0

To stay in the same place or state and not change

How Transformed

to transform
523 3.4
to turn into
890 2.2
to develop
905 1.6
to become
1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

turn + into

The meaning 'to become or cause to become something different' is directly and transparently derived from 'turn' (to change) combined with 'into' (expressing change of state or transformation). This verb + preposition composition is a common, cross-linguistic way to express transformation and would be readily understood by a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Turn into gives a simple image: turn shows a change and into shows entering a new form, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. So it means 'to become' or 'to change into' something different.