page-turner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “page-turner” mean?
A book that is so exciting or compelling that one feels eager to keep reading and turning the pages.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A book that is so exciting or compelling that one feels eager to keep reading and turning the pages.
Any narrative work (including films, TV series, or even video games) that is exceptionally gripping and holds the audience's attention intensely.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The compound noun form is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally positive in both dialects. Slightly more common in spoken than formal written English.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “page-turner” in a Sentence
be a page-turnerfind something a page-turnerdescribe something as a page-turnercall something a page-turnerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “page-turner” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in marketing or publishing to describe a product's engaging nature.
Academic
Very rare. Not a technical literary term.
Everyday
Common in conversations about books, films, and TV shows.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “page-turner”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “page-turner”
- Using it for non-narrative content (e.g., 'This textbook is a page-turner').
- Spelling as two separate words without a hyphen ('page turner').
- Using it in overly formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, informally. It's often extended to mean any narrative that is very gripping (e.g., 'That new series is a real page-turner').
No, it is an informal, colloquial term most common in everyday speech, reviews, and marketing.
A 'bestseller' refers to commercial sales success. A 'page-turner' refers to a book's ability to engage the reader. A book can be one without being the other.
It is less common, but possible if the non-fiction is written in a very narrative, suspenseful style (e.g., a true crime or history book).
A book that is so exciting or compelling that one feels eager to keep reading and turning the pages.
Page-turner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪdʒ ˌtɜː.nər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪdʒ ˌtɝː.nɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Couldn't put it down”
- “A real pageturner”
- “Read it in one sitting”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically being unable to stop turning the pages of a book because the story has you hooked.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENGAGEMENT IS PHYSICAL CAPTIVATION (the story 'grabs' you and forces you to keep turning pages).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'page-turner' LEAST appropriate?