Submit vs We turned them over to

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Submit

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

We turned them over to

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Submit
 SubmitWe turned them over to
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/səbˈmɪt/","/səbˈmɪts/","/səbˈmɪtɪd/","/səbˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səbˈmɪt/","/səbˈmɪts/","/səbˈmɪtɪd/","/səbˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː tɜːnd ðɛm ˈəʊvə tʊ//🇺🇸 //wi tɜrn ðɛm ˈoʊvər tʊ//
MeaningTo give something for someone to look at or decide on.We gave them to someone else.
ExamplePlease submit your application before the deadline.We turned them over to the authorities after the incident.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsformally, respectfully, humbly, ask somebody to, invite somebody to, require somebody to, for, to, voluntarily, willingly, meekly, refuse to, agree to, be prepared to, toturn over evidence, turn over information, turn over documents, turn over suspects, turn over control
Antonymswithdraw, cancel-
Common mistakesConfusing 'submit' with 'send' - 'Submit' often implies a formal process., Using 'submit' without a clear object., Overusing 'submit' instead of simpler verbs like 'give' or 'hand in' in informal scenarios.Confused with 'turn them in' which means to submit something., Using 'to' when it should be 'for' in some contexts., Misunderstanding the passive meaning.
Usage notesUsed in formal and neutral contexts, such as in applications or proposals. Avoid using ‘submit’ in very casual conversations.Use 'turn over' in situations where you're formally or informally passing responsibility or possession. Avoid using in casual, everyday conversation unless context is clear.

See it in real clips

We turned them over to

Frequently asked questions: Submit vs We turned them over to

What's the difference between Submit and We turned them over to?

Submit: To give something for someone to look at or decide on. We turned them over to: We gave them to someone else.

Which is more common: Submit and We turned them over to?

Submit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Submit: Please submit your application before the deadline. We turned them over to: We turned them over to the authorities after the incident.

Can I use Submit and We turned them over to interchangeably?

Not always. Submit and We turned them over to are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons