turn in
/tɜːrn ɪn/
Meaning
To submit or hand in homework, an assignment, an essay, or a report to a teacher, professor, or authority figure. It is the standard, neutral phrasal verb used in schools and universities across English-speaking countries.
Examples
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Please remember to turn in your essays before 5:00 PM on Friday.
Please remember to turn in your essays before 5:00 PM on Friday.
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I forgot to turn in my math homework yesterday, so I lost ten points.
I forgot to turn in my math homework yesterday, so I lost ten points.
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You can turn your assignments in online through the student portal.
You can turn your assignments in online through the student portal.
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Has everyone turned in their permission slips for the field trip?
Has everyone turned in their permission slips for the field trip?
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He worked on the research paper all night and finally turned it in this morning.
He worked on the research paper all night and finally turned it in this morning.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I worked hard on the paper and turned in it this morning.
✓ I worked hard on the paper and turned it in this morning.
When the object of a separable phrasal verb like 'turn in' is a pronoun (it, them, us), the pronoun must go in the middle of the verb and the preposition.
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✗ I need to turn out my essay by tomorrow.
✓ I need to turn in my essay by tomorrow.
'Turn out' means to produce or to end up in a certain way, whereas 'turn in' means to submit. Mixing up these prepositions changes the meaning entirely.
Related Expressions
Practice
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Don't forget to ___ your biology lab report before the end of the week.
💡 This phrasal verb means to submit your work to the teacher.
Show answer
turn in
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I finished the assignment early, so I already ___ yesterday.
💡 Use the past tense and include the pronoun 'it' in the middle of the phrasal verb.
Show answer
turned it in