twisted; twisting; twists
1
a
: to unite by winding
twisting strands together
b
: to make by twisting strands together
twist thread from yarn
c
: to mingle by interlacing
3
a
: to wring or wrench so as to dislocate or distort
c
: contort
twisted his face into a grin
d
: to pull off, turn, or break by torsion
twist the nut off the bolt
e
: to cause to move with a turning motion
twisted her chair to face the fire
f
: to form into a spiral shape
g
: to cause to take on moral, mental, or emotional deformity
celebrity has twisted their sense of decorum
h
: to make (one's way) in a winding or devious manner to a destination or objective
1
: to follow a winding course : snake
2
3
of a ball
: to rotate while taking a curving path or direction
4
: turn sense 3a
twisted around to see behind him
1
b
: a dance performed with strenuous gyrations especially of the hips
c
: the spin given the ball in any of various games
d
: a spiral turn or curve
e(1)
: torque or torsional stress applied to a body (such as a rod or shaft)
(2)
: torsional strain
(3)
: the angle through which a thing is twisted
2
a
: a turning off a straight course
b
c
: a distortion of meaning or sense
3
4
: something formed by twisting or winding: such as
a
: a strip of citrus peel used to flavor a drink
b
: a baked piece of twisted dough
c
: a thread, yarn, or cord formed by twisting two or more strands together
d
: a strong tightly twisted sewing silk
e
: tobacco leaves twisted into a thick roll
5
: a front or back dive in which the diver twists sideways a half or full turn before entering the water
Synonyms
Examples of twist in a Sentence
Verb
The toy can be twisted into different shapes.
She twisted balloons into the shapes of different animals.
The antenna was twisted out of shape.
The car was a heap of twisted metal after the accident.
He twists his lip into an odd expression when he's thinking.
twist the dials on the radio
The bottle cap twists off.
Noun
a simple twist of the wrist
The jar should open with a twist of the lid.
The road has some nasty twists.
The coastal road had many twists and turns.
It was a film noir with some clever twists.
In an unusual twist, the police arrested one of their own.
They were brought together by a strange twist of fate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 29 Apr. 2024
At various points, she can be seen stripping off her clothes, vomiting profusely and twisting and squirming across the medical isolation unit she had been placed in for her own protection.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for twist 
Verb
Interested candidates should be comfortable regularly twisting, kneeling and lifting.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 29 Apr. 2024
At various points, she can be seen stripping off her clothes, vomiting profusely and twisting and squirming across the medical isolation unit she had been placed in for her own protection.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for twist
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twist.' 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 twist
Cite this Entry
“Twist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twist. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
twist
1 of 2 verb1
: to unite by winding one thread, strand, or wire around another
3
a
: to turn so as to sprain or hurt
twisted my ankle
b
: to change the meaning of
twisted the facts
c
: to pull off, rotate, or break by a turning force
twisted a small branch off the tree
4
: to follow a winding course
twist
2 of 2 noun1
: a thread, yarn, or cord made by twisting two or more strands together
2
: an act of twisting : the state of being twisted
3
: a spiral turn or curve
4
: a strong personal tendency : bent
5
: a changing of meaning
6
: something (as a plan of action) that is both surprising and strange
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