turn in

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 hand over something or someone to the police or an authority B2
  2. 2 go to bed (informal) B2
1 turn sb/sth in

hand over something or someone to the police or an authority

B2

What does "turn in" mean in this sense?

To turn something in means to give it to someone who has authority or responsibility over it — a teacher, a manager, an official, or another person in charge. It's especially common in American English school and workplace settings, where you might turn in an essay, a timesheet, or a form when it's due. The key idea is that you're delivering something that was expected of you, often by a deadline. This sense always requires an object — the thing being submitted — which helps distinguish it from other uses of 'turn in'. British English speakers tend to prefer 'hand in' for the same idea, but 'turn in' is widely understood across varieties of English.

Examples

How to use it

turn in + thing

The most basic pattern: the object (a document, form, or item) follows the particle. Common with longer noun phrases.

You need to turn in your application before the end of the month.

turn + thing + in

With short noun phrases, separating the verb and particle is very natural — in fact, it's often preferred.

She turned her report in an hour before the deadline.

turn + pronoun + in

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'turn' and 'in' — this is a firm rule.

I finished the assignment last night and turned it in this morning.

be turned in (by deadline)

The passive is natural, especially in formal or institutional contexts where the focus is on the item rather than who submitted it.

All expense reports must be turned in by the last working day of the month.

turn in + thing + to + person/place

You can specify who or where the item is being submitted using 'to'.

Please turn in your equipment to the front desk before you leave.

Common Collocations

assignmenthomeworkreportformtimesheetkeys

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'turn' and 'in'. Placing it after 'in' is incorrect.

✗ I forgot to turn in it before the deadline.
✓ I forgot to turn it in before the deadline.
Using 'turn in' in obviously British English contexts

'Turn in' is strongly associated with American English. In British English contexts, 'hand in' is the more natural and expected choice. Both mean the same thing, but using 'turn in' in a British setting can sound slightly out of place.

Confusing the 'submit' sense with the 'report a person' sense

When the object of 'turn in' is a person rather than a document or item, it shifts to a completely different meaning — reporting someone to the authorities. To stay in the 'submit' sense, make sure the object is a thing, not a person.

✗ She turned in her colleague to complain about his lateness.
✓ She turned in her timesheet to the manager.

Usage

'Turn in' is more common in American English; British English speakers usually say 'hand in' instead. Both are neutral in register and suitable for everyday spoken and written use.

2 turn in

go to bed (informal)

B2

Sense 2: What does "turn in" mean?

Turning in simply means going to bed, usually at the end of the day or evening. It is an informal expression, most often heard in casual spoken English when someone announces they are ready to sleep — for example, at the end of a social evening or after a tiring day. The phrase has a slightly old-fashioned or traditional feel, and you are more likely to hear it from older speakers than younger ones, though it is understood across all age groups in both British and American English. It almost always appears alongside a time reference or adverb — such as 'early', 'late', or 'for the night' — which helps make the meaning clear. Because the same words 'turn in' can mean something quite different in other contexts, that time reference or the total absence of an object is usually what signals this particular sense.

Examples

How to use it

subject + turn in

The most common pattern — no object is needed or possible, as this is a complete intransitive expression.

It was nearly midnight, so everyone decided to turn in.

subject + turn in + time adverb (early / late / soon)

A time adverb is frequently added to say when someone is going to bed, and this helps confirm the 'go to bed' meaning.

She had an early flight, so she turned in early and skipped the second film.

subject + turn in + for the night

'For the night' is a very fixed and common collocation with this sense, emphasising that the person is done for the day.

After a long drive across the country, we checked into the hotel and turned in for the night.

subject + turn in + around / at + time

A specific clock time can follow, giving a more precise indication of when someone went to bed.

He usually turns in around ten, even at weekends.

I think / I'd better + turn in

This pattern is very common when someone is announcing to others that they are about to go to bed, often as a way of saying goodnight.

I think I'll turn in — it's been a long day and I'm completely exhausted.

Common Collocations

turn in earlyturn in lateturn in for the nighttime to turn inI think I'll turn inturn in soon

Common Mistakes

Adding an object

This sense of 'turn in' is intransitive — it never takes an object. If you add a noun after it (like a document, assignment, or person), the meaning shifts to a completely different sense of 'turn in'.

✗ I'm tired, so I'll turn in myself now.
✓ I'm tired, so I'll turn in now.
Using the present continuous

'I'm turning in' sounds unnatural in most situations. When announcing you're going to bed, use 'I think I'll turn in' or 'I'm going to turn in' rather than the present continuous form.

✗ I'm turning in right now — goodnight everyone.
✓ I'm going to turn in right now — goodnight everyone.

Usage

This is an informal, slightly old-fashioned expression used in everyday conversation. It is more common among older speakers and is equally understood in British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'turn in' only used in American English?

'Turn in' in this sense is strongly associated with American English, especially in school and workplace contexts. British English speakers typically prefer 'hand in' for the same meaning. That said, 'turn in' is widely understood by speakers of all English varieties.

Can 'turn in' have more than one meaning?

Yes — 'turn in' has other senses beyond submitting something. For example, it can mean to go to bed ('I'm going to turn in early') or to report a person to the authorities. On this page, we focus only on the 'submit/hand over' meaning. The key clue is that this sense always takes an object that is a document, item, or piece of equipment — never a person.

Can I say 'I am turning in my assignment right now'?

It sounds a little unnatural in most situations. 'Turn in' in this sense works best in the simple past, present perfect, future, or as an imperative. The present continuous is only really used if you are literally in the middle of physically handing something over at that exact moment.

What kinds of things can you 'turn in'?

'Turn in' works with documents and paperwork (essays, reports, applications, timesheets, forms) and also physical items that are returned to an authority (equipment, keys, a badge, or a uniform). It doesn't work when the object is a person — that triggers a completely different meaning.

Is 'turn in' less formal than 'submit'?

'Turn in' is neutral to slightly informal, making it a good fit for everyday conversation and standard written English like emails or instructions. 'Submit' is more formal and is typically preferred in official written documents, application portals, and academic guidelines. In most everyday school or workplace situations, both are appropriate.

Is 'turn in' old-fashioned? Do younger people use it?

It does have a slightly old-fashioned or traditional feel, and it is more commonly used by older speakers. Younger people are more likely to say 'go to bed', 'head to bed', or 'crash'. That said, 'turn in' is still widely understood and used, so it won't sound strange if you use it.

Does 'turn in' always mean 'go to bed'? I've seen it used differently.

'Turn in' has several different meanings in English. In this sense it means 'go to bed', but the same words can also mean 'submit something' (like homework) or 'hand someone over to the authorities'. The key with the 'go to bed' sense is that there is no object — nothing follows 'turn in' except perhaps a time word like 'early' or 'for the night'.

Can I use 'turn in' to talk about someone else going to bed, or just myself?

You can use it with any subject — yourself, another person, or a group. For example, 'She turned in early' or 'The whole team turned in after dinner' are both perfectly natural. It doesn't have to be a first-person statement.

Is 'turn in for the night' a fixed phrase, or can I change 'night' to something else?

'Turn in for the night' is the standard and most common form — 'for the night' is strongly associated with this expression. You wouldn't normally substitute 'night' with another word in this collocation. If you want to specify a different time, it's more natural to use a time adverb instead, such as 'turn in early' or 'turn in around nine'.

Can I use 'turn in' in a text message or casual email?

Yes, it fits naturally in informal written contexts like text messages or casual emails to friends. For example, 'Going to turn in early tonight — catch you tomorrow!' would sound perfectly natural. Just avoid it in formal writing, where 'go to bed' or 'retire for the evening' would be more appropriate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

hand sth in

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