transitive verb
1. : deflect , avert
proper clothing and genteel speech would turn away the adverse criticisms — Oscar Handlin
a soft answer turneth away wrath — Prov 15:1 (Authorized Version)
2.
a. : to send away : reject , dismiss
b. : repel
c. : to refuse admittance or acceptance to
hundreds were turned away from the theater
intransitive verb
: to start to go away : leave , depart , abandon
when the audience turns away there is something wrong with the writer's communication line — Stuart Chase