phrasal verb · neutral

turn against

UK/tɜːn əˈɡɛnst/US/tɝːn əˈɡɛnst/turn a·GAINST

speakingtask2

to change from supporting someone/something to opposing them

Examples

After the oil spill, many locals turned against the corporation.

Public opinion turned against the policy once its costs became clear.

He turned against his former allies during the investigation.

Band 8 sentence

By the time the investigation was public, most voters had already turned against the party.

Collocations

  • turn against someone
  • turn public opinion against
  • be turned against

Word family

turns against verb (3rd sg)turned against verb (past/p.p.)turning against verb (gerund)

Common mistakes

turned the companyturned against the company

turn to the companyturn against the company

Say it for a higher band

5hate6oppose7+turn against

Synonyms

oppose

reject

Easily confused

turn to

When stressed, she turned to meditation for relief.

turn on

The crowd suddenly turned on the speaker when he lied.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In turn …

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