: 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
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
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 June 2025
The museum will also feature rotating contemporary exhibitions from Mexican, Latin American, and female artists.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
In addition to the two enormous submarine sets, there had never been a need to build a gimbal big and strong enough to support, rotate, and move a set of this size, nor a water tank large enough to house the gimbal and set.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
The display hinge rotates back 180 degrees, which is unusual for a budget laptop.
—PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotate
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
For more formal occasions, she’s also rotated in white sneakers worn with tailored linen separates — a recurring combination that blends practicality with polish.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 June 2025
The museum will also feature rotating contemporary exhibitions from Mexican, Latin American, and female artists.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 6 June 2025
In addition to the two enormous submarine sets, there had never been a need to build a gimbal big and strong enough to support, rotate, and move a set of this size, nor a water tank large enough to house the gimbal and set.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
The display hinge rotates back 180 degrees, which is unusual for a budget laptop.
—PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotate
Cite this Entry
“Rotate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotate. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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