: having the parts flat and spreading or radiating like the spokes of a wheel
rotate blue flowers
rotated; rotating
1
a
: to perform an act, function, or operation in turn
b
: to pass or alternate in a series
2
: to turn about an axis or a center : revolve
especially
: to move in such a way that all particles follow circles with a common angular velocity about a common axis
1
a
: to cause to turn or move about an axis or a center
b
: to cause (a plane region or line) to sweep out a volume or surface by moving around an axis so that each of its points remains at a constant distance from the axis
generate a torus by rotating a circle about an external line
2
: to cause to grow in rotation
rotate crops
3
: to cause to pass or act in a series : alternate
4
: to exchange (individuals or units) with others
Synonyms
Examples of rotate in a Sentence
Verb
As the gear rotates, it turns the other gears.
The Earth rotates on its axis.
The planets rotate around the sun.
The software allows you to rotate images.
Rotate the sheet of paper 90 degrees.
The staff rotates the weekend shift.
We rotate—she does the dishes one week; I do them the next.
You should rotate your car's tires once a year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Cook, covered, about 2 minutes, rotating skillet after 1 minute, or until whites are set but yolks are still runny.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Sever and his team rotated out from Tabaivka at 2 a.m., while the Russians were preoccupied with their hopeless efforts to reach their marooned comrades in the root cellar.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, meaning one hour of time is equivalent to 15 degrees of longitude.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Rewards account: Smart Saver is BJ’s regular flyer with rotating deals on a variety of items, including outdoor furniture, lunchbox snacks and everyday needs, like toilet paper and laundry detergent.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The fireplace rotates to provide entry to the room when a member of the family places a hand on a biometric touch pad that recognizes their fingerprints.
—Jane Margolies, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
From the rotating pop-up El Rey de las Arepas in southwest Detroit, options are beef or chicken served with cheese and garlic sauce.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
On June 29, 2022, Earth rotated 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours, the fastest rotation that scientists had ever previously recorded, according to TimeAndDate.com.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The first two cages rotate together every 30 seconds, and the third every 60 seconds.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Cook, covered, about 2 minutes, rotating skillet after 1 minute, or until whites are set but yolks are still runny.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Sever and his team rotated out from Tabaivka at 2 a.m., while the Russians were preoccupied with their hopeless efforts to reach their marooned comrades in the root cellar.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, meaning one hour of time is equivalent to 15 degrees of longitude.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Rewards account: Smart Saver is BJ’s regular flyer with rotating deals on a variety of items, including outdoor furniture, lunchbox snacks and everyday needs, like toilet paper and laundry detergent.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The fireplace rotates to provide entry to the room when a member of the family places a hand on a biometric touch pad that recognizes their fingerprints.
—Jane Margolies, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2024
From the rotating pop-up El Rey de las Arepas in southwest Detroit, options are beef or chicken served with cheese and garlic sauce.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
On June 29, 2022, Earth rotated 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours, the fastest rotation that scientists had ever previously recorded, according to TimeAndDate.com.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rotate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rotate
Cite this Entry
“Rotate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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