turn·over
ˈtərn-ˌō-vər 
1
a(1)
: the amount received in sales for a stated period
(2)
: the ratio of sales for a stated period to average inventory
(3)
: a cycle of purchase, sale, and replacement of a stock of goods
b
: the number of persons hired within a period to replace those leaving or dropped from a workforce
also
: the ratio of this number to the number in the average force maintained
c
: movement (as of goods or people) into, through, and out of a place
2
: the amount of business done
especially
: the volume of shares traded on a stock exchange
3
: the act or an instance of a team's losing possession of a ball through error or a minor violation of the rules (as in basketball or football)
4
: a filled pastry made by folding half of the crust over the other half
7
: a reorganization with a view to a shift in personnel : shake-up
8
: something that is turned over
9
: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (such as a cell or tissue) of a living system
turned over; turning over; turns over
1
2
3
a
: to do business to the amount of
turning over $1000 a week
b
: to receive and dispose of (a stock of merchandise)
4
: to search (clothes, papers, etc.) by lifting or moving one by one
5
: to read or examine (something, such as a book) slowly or idly
2
a
: rotate
b
of an engine
: to have crankshaft rotation especially by external means (as by a starter)
the engine turned over but didn't start
3
a
of one's stomach
: to heave with nausea
b
of one's heart
: to seem to leap or lurch convulsively with sudden fright
Examples of turnover in a Sentence
Noun
The company had an increase in turnover this quarter.
The company has a high turnover rate.
We want to find ways to speed up inventory turnover.
Verb
reluctantly turned the ship over to the first mate while he went below to try to stop the leak
turned the evidence over to the police
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
That assist-to-turnover ratio ranks in the top 12 in the league, and his 33 assists are the most by a Heat player in the first four games of a season since Tim Hardaway had 33 to start the 1996-97 season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
That framework, the NCAA has insisted, ensures roster spots turn over to incoming freshmen or transfers, and helps to distinguish college sports from pro sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnover
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Melvin should be worried about assists and turnovers and Tre should be worried about rebounding.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
That assist-to-turnover ratio ranks in the top 12 in the league, and his 33 assists are the most by a Heat player in the first four games of a season since Tim Hardaway had 33 to start the 1996-97 season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
While Robertson struggled with his ball placement and drops by his receivers, Hoover rose to the occasion in the elements to rebound from his multi-turnover performance against Kansas State.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
The city has turned over the 2023 debt to a collection agency.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
That framework, the NCAA has insisted, ensures roster spots turn over to incoming freshmen or transfers, and helps to distinguish college sports from pro sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnover
Cite this Entry
“Turnover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnover. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
turnover
noun
turn·over
ˈtər-ˌnō-vər
: the continuous process of loss and replacement of a constituent (as a neurotransmitter, cell, or tissue) of a living system
protein turnover in various pathological states—J. C. Waterlow
J. C. Waterlowhyperthyroidism accelerates bone turnover and shortens the normal bone remodeling cycle—Richard Sadovsky
Richard SadovskyLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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