Meaning
Turn in has several meanings depending on context:
- Submit something (e.g., homework, reports).
- Go to bed (informal).
- Hand over someone/something to authorities.
Grammar and Usage
- Phrasal verb (transitive & intransitive depending on meaning)
- turn in + noun → submit or hand over
e.g., turn in the assignment / turn in the suspect - turn in (no object) → go to sleep
e.g., I’m tired, so I’ll turn in.
Common Phrases
- turn in homework
- turn in a report
- turn in early
- turn oneself in
- turn in a gun
Collocations
- turn in + assignment / paper / report
- turn in + suspect / criminal
- turn in + early / for the night
Examples
- Please turn in your homework by Friday.
- I’m exhausted—I'm going to turn in early tonight.
- The thief finally turned himself in to the police.
- She forgot to turn in her badge when she quit.
- Students must turn in their papers before noon.
- After the long trip, we all turned in right away.
- He was forced to turn in the documents he had taken.
Synonyms or Related
- submit
- hand in
- give in
- surrender (for “turn in to authorities”)
- go to bed (for “turn in” meaning sleep)
Antonym
- keep (opposite of submit/hand over)
- stay up (opposite of go to bed)