Meaning & use
rotating
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“rotating” is a form of “rotate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Turning in a circle around a fixed point or line, such as an axle or the center of a wheel.
Grammar: Normally comes before a noun: a rotating fan; after a verb you can say the fan is rotating.
Patterns
- a rotating something
- rotating around something
A rotating blade cut the vegetables into slices.
The rotating Earth causes day and night.
We watched the rotating sign above the diner.
adjectivebefore a noun
Happening or arranged in turn, with people or things taking each position one after another in a regular pattern.
Grammar: Describes a schedule or group in which people swap places: a rotating shift.
Patterns
- a rotating schedule
- a rotating chairperson
The nurses work a rotating shift pattern.
The committee has a rotating chair that changes every year.
A rotating menu keeps the cafeteria interesting.
Common combinations
- rotating shift
- She works a rotating shift, so her days off change.
- rotating blades
- Keep your hands away from the rotating blades.
- rotating chair
- The rotating chair of the group changes each term.
- rotating platform
- The cars were shown on a rotating platform.
- rotating basis
- Duties are shared on a rotating basis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spinning
- Spinning suggests fast, often free movement, while rotating is more formal and describes steady turning around an axis.
- revolving
- Revolving often describes moving around another body, like a planet, or a door, whereas rotating usually means turning around its own center.
- alternating
- Alternating means switching between two options, while a rotating pattern can involve several things taking turns.
- turning
- Turning is the plain everyday word and lacks the steady, cyclical suggestion of rotating.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rotating or revolving? rotating or rotting?
rotating vs revolving
Revolving is often used for an object moving around something else or a door, while rotating spins about its own axis.
rotating vs rotting
Rotting means decaying, and it looks similar to rotating but has nothing to do with turning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'rotating' to mean 'taking turns'?
Choose one answer.
On a rotating basis means people take turns in a repeating order. The fan and planet are physical turning, and rotting is a different word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rotating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.