Turn Left: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：go left (turn left)

turn left 🔊

/tɜːrn lɛft/

phr.

to change your direction to the left when moving.

Person turning left at intersection following street sign arrow

go left 🔊

➕

/ɡoʊ lɛft/

phr.

To change one's movement path to the left side.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

turn (Latin tornare) + left (Old English lyft, weak side).

💡 Mnemonic

'L' in 'left' points left; remember to turn when you see an L-shaped sign.

📖 Example

At the museum, the guide said, "After the dinosaur skeleton, turn left to see the ancient art collection." 🔊 At the museum, the guide said, 'After the dinosaur skeleton, turn left to see the ancient art collection.'

🔗 Collocations

turn left at the corner – to turn to the left when reaching a corner

turn left onto Main Street – to direct one's vehicle left onto a named road

make a left turn – to execute a turn to the left side

🔄 Synonyms

go left (phr.) – to move in a leftward direction

bear left (phr.) – to gradually curve or steer to the left

take a left (phr.) – to make a left turn, often used informally

🚫 Antonyms

turn right (phr.) – to change direction to the right side

go right (phr.) – to move in a rightward direction

bear right (phr.) – to gradually curve or steer to the right

📖 Cultural Story

Historically, 'left' derived from Old English 'lyft' meaning weak, contrasting with 'right' as correct. Today, 'turn left' is a common directional phrase in traffic and navigation.