turnabout

noun

turn·​about ˈtərn-ə-ˌbau̇t 

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

Synonyms of turnabout

• reversal

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 rapid turnabout raises questions about the status of the investigation and the community’s safety three days after a suspect opened fire on the Ivy League campus, killing two students and injuring nine others. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025

That decline, a sharp turnabout from October, was led by businesses with fewer than 50 workers, which saw their payroll numbers sink by 120,000. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025

The bread-and-butter advantage among Democrats marked a sharp turnabout. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025

Recent weeks have brought a turnabout for India, which was confident that its importance to the United States and the rapport between its prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Mr. Trump would earn it a reprieve. —New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing turnabout

• turnabout is fair play

Rhymes for turnabout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout

Kids Definition

turnabout

noun

turn·​about ˈtər-nə-ˌbau̇t 

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