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To activate or start a device or system
He turned on the TV to watch the news.
He activated the TV to watch the news.
The engineer turned on the machine to begin the process.
The engineer activated the machine to start the process.
Commonly used with electronic devices and machinery.
To make someone sexually aroused
His compliments really turned her on.
His compliments made her sexually aroused.
This meaning is informal and often considered vulgar.
To direct anger or aggression toward someone
The crowd turned on the speaker when he made a controversial statement.
The crowd directed their anger toward the speaker after his statement.
This meaning implies a sudden shift in attitude.
The meaning of 'turn on' depends heavily on the context. In technical contexts, it means to activate, while in informal contexts, it can have other meanings.
Be mindful of the context when using 'turn on' to avoid misunderstandings, especially in informal or slang contexts.
From the combination of the verb 'turn' and the preposition 'on', indicating a change in state from off to on.
The phrasal verb 'turn on' is versatile and can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. The most common usage is to activate a device or system. In informal contexts, it can also refer to sexual arousal or directing anger toward someone.