turnabout

noun

turn·​about ˈtərn-ə-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce turnabout (audio)
1
a
: a change or reversal of direction, trend, policy, role, or character
b
: a changing from one allegiance to another
d
: an act or instance of retaliating
turnabout is fair play
2

Examples of turnabout in a Sentence

employees regarded the latest turnabout as a sure sign that management hadn't a clue as to what it was doing
Recent Examples on the Web The finding highlights a turnabout from earlier this year when Trump faced a serious challenge from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis among California Republicans. Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 But what handful of turnabouts there are get artfully deployed. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2024 Look for opportunities; a positive turnabout will develop. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024 Hitchcock famously used this trick for the meta-trailer for Psycho, then proceeded to deliver not one but two of the most jaw-dropping turnabouts in cinema history. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024 The former governor doesn't shy away from those facts, but the turnabout sows doubt with some voters about his motivations. Hunter Woodall, Grace Kazarian, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2023 The finding from a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times highlights a turnabout from earlier this year. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 The turnabout has sent some investors looking for alternatives, including certificates of deposit, or CDs. Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2024 For the Queen Mary, which has been in dire need of repairs and work for years, turning a profit in 2023 is a significant turnabout in its recent history. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turnabout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of turnabout was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near turnabout

Cite this Entry

“Turnabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnabout. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

turnabout

noun
turn·​about ˈtər-nə-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce turnabout (audio)
: a change from one direction or one way of thinking or acting to the opposite

More from Merriam-Webster on turnabout

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