turnabout

noun turn·about \ ˈtərn-ə-ˌbau̇t \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of turnabout

1 a : a change or reversal of direction, trend, policy, role, or character

b : a changing from one allegiance to another

c : turncoat, renegade

d : an act or instance of retaliating

turnabout is fair play

2 : merry-go-round

See turnabout defined for English-language learners

See turnabout defined for kids

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 of turnabout from the Web

The three will also meet with the Rev. Jordi Bertomeu, the Vatican official who along with Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna prepared the 2,300-page report on Barros that led to Francis’ turnabout.

— nicole winfield, BostonGlobe.com, "Chile abuse victims to meet pope at Vatican," 14 Apr. 2018
North Korea’s sudden turnabout is remarkable, given the barrage of nuclear and missile tests over the past two years — including 17 full-flight missile tests in 2017.

— andrew yeo, Washington Post, "Why North Korea wants a summit with Trump," 14 Mar. 2018
The operation was a turnabout for the Syrian fighters, who had originally taken up arms to fight their government and are now fighting Syrian Kurds who had sought a measure of autonomy in Syria.

— carlotta gall and anne barnard, New York Times, "Syrian Rebels, Backed by Turkey, Seize Control of Afrin," 18 Mar. 2018
Structural conditions might explain the timing of North Korea’s turnabout, but active South Korean diplomacy also helped encourage North Korean leaders to step out of its shell, providing some diplomatic cover for its sudden turn toward engagement.

— andrew yeo, Washington Post, "Why North Korea wants a summit with Trump," 14 Mar. 2018
The scrutiny represents a whiplash turnabout for Israel, who played an unusually public role in comforting the community and rallying a bipartisan legislative response immediately after the attack.

— michael scherer, Washington Post, "Florida sheriff faces intensifying political scrutiny, calls to resign in wake of school shooting," 6 Mar. 2018
But the offer, apparently endorsed by Kim himself, would mark a significant turnabout after years of nuclear tests and advances in missile technology that apparently puts the U.S. mainland within range.

— brian murphy, Anchorage Daily News, "North Korea offers talks with U.S. on curbing nuclear program," 6 Mar. 2018
By any measure, this has been an exhilarating turnabout season for Missouri men’s basketball, a pivot to renewed hope after bleak years of chaos descended into futility.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Dud against Ole Miss must jolt Mizzou | The Kansas City Star," 21 Feb. 2018
Kudos to the clipboard wizardry of Spoelstra who’s transformed a lackluster 15–15 start into a 28–21 turnabout.

— karl bullock, SI.com, "The Case for Coach of the Year: Erik Spoelstra," 1 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turnabout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of turnabout

1789

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

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turnabout Synonyms

Synonyms

about-face, flip-flop, reversal, turnaround, U-turn;

Related Words

bait and switch, switcheroo;

denial, disaffirmance, disavowal, disownment, recantation, renunciation, repudiation, retraction;

reconsideration, retreat, second thought;

hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling);

Phrases

change of heart;

TURNABOUT Defined for Kids

turnabout

noun turn·about \ ˈtərn-ə-ˌbau̇t \

Definition of turnabout for Students

: a change from one direction or one way of thinking or acting to the opposite

In a complete turnabout, he admitted that he had lied.

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