Phrasal verb
turn in
Meanings
to go to bed; to stop being active for the night
to submit or hand something to the person in charge (e.g., homework, a report, keys)
to report someone to the police or authorities; to surrender someone
Definition
“Turn in” most commonly means to go to bed or stop being active for the night.
“Turn in” is a phrasal verb often used to say that someone goes to bed or ends their day and goes home. It can also mean to give something to an authority or person in charge, such as homework, keys, or a report. In another common meaning, it can mean to inform the police about a suspect or to surrender someone.
Examples
- I’m exhausted, so I’m going to turn in early tonight.
- You should turn in your assignment before the deadline.
- He decided to turn in the lost keys to the front desk.
- She wouldn’t turn in her coworker over a small mistake.
- They promised to turn in the suspect if they saw him again.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “turn in” (submit) with “hand in,” or forget the object and say “turn in the homework” incorrectly as “turn the homework in” without using the particle.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.