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
Examples of about-face in a Sentence
the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
Recent Examples on the Web
Mahan, who made a name for himself by criticizing the governor on homelessness, found himself in the hot seat with Hilton, who mocked a recent interview in which Mahan praised Newsom’s progress in reducing homelessness at the state level, an about-face from earlier comments.
—
Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
An about-face a few years down the line might look hypocritical in light of the new Super Bowl ad the company is releasing to highlight its announcement.
—Dominic Preston, The Verge, 4 Feb. 2026
Golden recently questioned 7-footer Charles Bediako’s return to Tuscaloosa after a two-season hiatus bouncing around the NBA’s G-League, an about-face counter to NCAA rules forbidding a player to enter the draft and return to college.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump made an about-face on tariffs this week.
—David Westin, Bloomberg, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
An about-face a few years down the line might look hypocritical in light of the new Super Bowl ad the company is releasing to highlight its announcement.
—Dominic Preston, The Verge, 4 Feb. 2026
Golden recently questioned 7-footer Charles Bediako’s return to Tuscaloosa after a two-season hiatus bouncing around the NBA’s G-League, an about-face counter to NCAA rules forbidding a player to enter the draft and return to college.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump made an about-face on tariffs this week.
—David Westin, Bloomberg, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for about-face
Cite this Entry
“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
