turn (something) inside out
idiom
informal
1
: to cause (a place) to become disorganized while one is trying to find something
I turned the closet inside out and still couldn't find those shoes.
2
: to change (something) completely
Her life was turned inside out after the accident.
Examples of turn (something) inside out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sorice also became belligerent when asked by poll workers to remove or turn inside out his sweatshirt with the Trump logo, Schererville poll worker Susan Greenberg said.
—
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Bonus: The pockets can all also turn inside out in case of a spill.
—Kayla Becker, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2024
Invagination — to turn something inside out or fold back into itself
5.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2023
Place pillowcases in a mesh laundry bag or turn inside out.
—Abigail Bailey, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
And like many exaggerated fears, this one has a tendency to turn inside out.
—Chris Lehmann, The New Republic, 3 Mar. 2022
And observing sperm modifications across the animal kingdom reveals a host of oddities, like sperm that increase tenfold in length or turn inside out within the female.
—Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Bonus: The pockets can all also turn inside out in case of a spill.
—Kayla Becker, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2024
Invagination — to turn something inside out or fold back into itself
5.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2023
Place pillowcases in a mesh laundry bag or turn inside out.
—Abigail Bailey, Good Housekeeping, 18 Jan. 2023
And like many exaggerated fears, this one has a tendency to turn inside out.
—Chris Lehmann, The New Republic, 3 Mar. 2022
And observing sperm modifications across the animal kingdom reveals a host of oddities, like sperm that increase tenfold in length or turn inside out within the female.
—Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Turn (something) inside out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20%28something%29%20inside%20out. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share