about-face

noun

ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās 

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

• about-turn [British]
• flip-flop
• reversal
• turnabout
• turnaround
• U-turn
• volte-face

Examples of about-face in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Cappiello talked with us about Monte Rio Cellars and explained his seeming about-face on natural wine. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2024

Some outsiders were embarrassed by the board's about-face. —Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024

But Canada might have a fight on its hands that mirrors what the U.S. government was up against before its about-face. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2024

That seems to have been the case with Hertz, which touted a new fleet of Tesla Model 3s only to make an about-face and sell off its rental EVs. —José Rodríguez Jr. / Jalopnik, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024

This new trend is an about-face from early in the pandemic, when Americans sought out larger living spaces. —Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024

Associates to Donald Trump and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell have had conversations about a possible endorsement of the former president - a move that would be a sharp about-face for McConnell, who denounced Trump in scathing terms after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. —David Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from the imperative phrase about face, from about entry 1 + face entry 2

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

about-face

noun

ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās

1

: a reversal of direction

2

: a reversal of attitude or point of view

about-face verb