plural churns
1
: a container in which cream is stirred or shaken to make butter
2
: a regular, quantifiable process or rate of change that occurs in a business over a period of time as existing customers are lost and new customers are added
The biggest problem they face is churn. Wireless providers lose an average of about 30% of their customers a year to competitors.—
Brian O'Reilly
Brian O'Reilly
also
: a similar process or rate of change involving loss and addition of employees, companies, etc.
The resulting employment churn—the average job tenure is now two years, and today's typical 32-year-old has held nine different jobs—means more risks as well as more opportunities to discover new paths. —Jamais Cascio
Jamais Cascio
churned; churning; churns
1
: to agitate (milk or cream) in a churn in order to make butter
The farmer churns his cream every day.
2
a
: to stir or agitate violently
an old stern-wheeler churning the muddy river
larger particles pound and churn the Moon's surface—E. M. Shoemaker
E. M. Shoemaker
b
: to make (something, such as foam) by so doing
3
of a stockbroker or brokerage
: to make (the account of a client) excessively active by frequent purchases and sales primarily in order to generate commissions
unscrupulous brokers may churn an account, trading frequently to generate high commissions—Mary Rowland
Mary Rowland1
: to work a churn (as in making butter)
2
a
: to produce, proceed with, or experience violent motion or agitation
her stomach was churning
churning legs
b
: to proceed by or as if by means of rotating members (such as wheels or propellers)
boats churning across the harbor
Synonyms
Examples of churn in a Sentence
Verb
The motorboats churned the water.
The water churned all around us.
The wheels began to slowly churn.
He showed them how to churn butter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In a bid to expand their user base and to reduce churn, a slew of streamers have cut deals with companies in the grocery business, betting that aligning entertainment with those selling a necessity like food can bolster both sides of the equation.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
Fernando Cervantes Jr., The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
With the war in Ukraine churning on, more U.S. focus on East Asia works for Russia.
—Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for churn 
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Noun
Satisfied customers are more likely to remain loyal, reducing churn.
—Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
In a bid to expand their user base and to reduce churn, a slew of streamers have cut deals with companies in the grocery business, betting that aligning entertainment with those selling a necessity like food can bolster both sides of the equation.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
In the unlikely event that there is a 269 to 269 tie in the Electoral College, a complicated process will begin to churn.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
With the war in Ukraine churning on, more U.S. focus on East Asia works for Russia.
—Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for churn
Dictionary Entries Near churn
Cite this Entry
“Churn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churn. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
churn
1 of 2 noun
: a container in which milk or cream is stirred or shaken in making butter
churn
2 of 2 verb1
: to stir or shake in a churn (as in making butter)
2
a
: to stir or shake violently
the boat's propeller churning the water
b
: to produce, move with, or experience violent motion or agitation
her stomach was churning
churning legs
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