about-face
noun
1
: a 180° turn to the right from the position of attention
2
: a reversal of direction
3
: a reversal of attitude, behavior, or point of view
about-face
intransitive verb
Synonyms
Examples of about-face in a Sentence
the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
Recent Examples on the Web
In a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Powell alluded to the 2019 quantitative tightening effort that led to chaos in the money markets — and an about-face by the central bank.
—
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 3 May 2024
The tone from city and civic leaders in San Jose has seen an about-face since then, and that was reinforced Thursday with a city news release featuring a bevy of optimistic statements.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
In statements and interviews, those involved in building, selling, and developing electric vehicle charging said that Tesla’s sudden about-face on charging might affect the short-term future of public charging infrastructure, but not the long-term electric transition.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 2 May 2024
Three years later, the Heisman Trust pointed to the same changes to college athletics as the reason for its about-face on Bush.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
New aid for Ukraine came only after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, who once opposed it, did an about-face and put his job on the line to get it through, amid threats from three far right Republicans to oust him.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2024
In Baghdad, memories are still vivid of Washington’s about-face when President Barack Obama came to office pledging to withdraw from Iraq only to send U.S. forces back three years later as ISIS gained ground.
—Mina Al-Oraibi, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024
Biden suggested the reason for his about-face was that Hyde's restrictions would interfere with his desire to provide a broad range of health services to women.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Since then, the Philippines' more China-friendly policies under the previous government have done an about-face under the country's current President Marcos, who has made defending Manila's territorial claims of the Spratly Islands a priority.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 3 May 2024
The tone from city and civic leaders in San Jose has seen an about-face since then, and that was reinforced Thursday with a city news release featuring a bevy of optimistic statements.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
In statements and interviews, those involved in building, selling, and developing electric vehicle charging said that Tesla’s sudden about-face on charging might affect the short-term future of public charging infrastructure, but not the long-term electric transition.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 2 May 2024
Three years later, the Heisman Trust pointed to the same changes to college athletics as the reason for its about-face on Bush.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
New aid for Ukraine came only after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, who once opposed it, did an about-face and put his job on the line to get it through, amid threats from three far right Republicans to oust him.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2024
In Baghdad, memories are still vivid of Washington’s about-face when President Barack Obama came to office pledging to withdraw from Iraq only to send U.S. forces back three years later as ISIS gained ground.
—Mina Al-Oraibi, Foreign Affairs, 12 Apr. 2024
Biden suggested the reason for his about-face was that Hyde's restrictions would interfere with his desire to provide a broad range of health services to women.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Since then, the Philippines' more China-friendly policies under the previous government have done an about-face under the country's current President Marcos, who has made defending Manila's territorial claims of the Spratly Islands a priority.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'about-face.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near about-face
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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