What does "rotation" mean?
The act of turning around a centre or an axis.
Rotation
/ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of turning around a centre or an axis.
- Grammar: rotation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: revolution, roster, turn, acting turn.
- Useful contrasts: zero rotation, bullpen, fixed order.
- Usage evidence: Five pitchers are to take the mound in rotation.
How to use "rotation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rotation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rotation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rotation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rotation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rotation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "revolution" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rotation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of turning around a centre or an axis. uncountable
"An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes."
- 2 the act of rotating as if on an axis wordnet
- 3 A single complete cycle around a centre or an axis. countable, uncountable
"Earth's moon completes a rotation every twenty-seven days or so."
- 4 a planned recurrent sequence (of crops or personnel etc.) wordnet
- 5 A regular variation in a sequence, such as to even out wear, or people taking turns in a task; a duty roster. countable, uncountable
"Applying crop rotation to a field avoids depleting soil nutrients the way repeated use of a single crop might do."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 a single complete turn (axial or orbital) wordnet
- 7 Тhe movement of investments between different sectors of an economy, or styles of investing, based on anticipated changes in the economic or market cycle. countable, uncountable
"Sector rotation attempts to capitalize on the tendency of certain sectors to outperform others during specific economic phases, while style rotation involves shifting investments between different investment styles, such as moving from growth stocks to value stocks."
- 8 (mathematics) a transformation in which the coordinate axes are rotated by a fixed angle about the origin wordnet
- 9 An operation on a metric space that is a continuous isometry and fixes at least one point. countable, uncountable
"The function mapping (x,y) to (−y,x) is a rotation."
- 10 The set of starting pitchers of a team. countable, uncountable
- 11 The step during takeoff when the pilot commands the vehicle to lift the nose wheel off the ground during the takeoff roll. (see also: V2) countable, uncountable
- 12 Repeated play of songs on a radio station, advertisements on a television channel, etc. countable, uncountable
"The new single enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Five pitchers are to take the mound in rotation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rotation"?
Common synonyms include: revolution, roster, turn, acting turn, alternating, alternation.
How do you use "rotation" in a sentence?
Five pitchers are to take the mound in rotation.
How do you pronounce "rotation"?
Pronounced /ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin rotatiō. By surface analysis, rotate + -ion.