turnaround

play

noun turn·around \ -ˌrau̇nd \

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of turnaround

1 a :the action of receiving, processing, and returning something

24-hour turnaround time on most orders

b :the process of readying a transport vehicle for departure after its arrival; also :the time spent in this process

a quick turnaround between flights

2 a :turnabout 1a

a corporate turnaround

b :turnabout 1b

3 :a space permitting the turning around of a vehicle

4 :a jump shot by a player facing away from the basket who turns toward the basket while shooting —often used attributively

a turnaround jumper

See turnaround defined for English-language learners

See turnaround defined for kids

Examples of turnaround in a Sentence

The turnaround for most orders is 24 hours.
There is a 24-hour turnaround time on most orders.
a quick turnaround between flights
The team needs a big turnaround after their loss last week.
The company has achieved a remarkable turnaround in the past year.
The latest news has caused a turnaround in public opinion.

Recent Examples of turnaround from the Web

Brian Kelly kind of shrugged his shoulders and laughed when he was asked to list the most necessary areas of defensive improvement if this is to become a turnaround season for Notre Dame.

— todd burlage, The Seattle Times, "New coordinator hoping less is more for Notre Dame defense," 30 Aug. 2017
San Francisco has been hard at work reworking the roster, so expecting any big turnaround this year isn’t very realistic.

— george richards, miamiherald, "2017 NFC Preview: Atlanta Falcons look for Super Bowl redemption," 30 Aug. 2017
Peltz, who owns 1.5 percent of the company, wants a board seat to increase his influence over the ongoing turnaround.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Former P&G exec: Why I sided with hedge fund," 28 Aug. 2017
Barring a dramatic turnaround, what are these towns to do?

— alana semuels, The Atlantic, "Can Anything Stop Rural Decline?," 23 Aug. 2017
What a great couple — and what a turnaround for Taylor!

— ashley iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, "Bachelor in Paradise Premiere Recap: A Lesson in Consent, With Some Messy Mixed Messages," 16 Aug. 2017
Nope, not talking about her recent dip into a brunette shade, or quick turnaround back into blond-land, but rather a jaw-length, blunt bob.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "Khloé Kardashian Just Debuted a Short Blunt Bob, and We're So Into It," 8 Aug. 2017
The shift to July 27 from Aug. 2 will free P&G executives to speak at length to Wall Street analysts about the company's turnaround progress.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Job cuts? Sale? What will P&G do to fight off hedge fund?," 18 July 2017
Catapult has helped the Crimson Tide navigate the long break that precedes the semifinal and then make the quicker turnaround for the championship game.

— rainer sabin, AL.com, "Inside the technology giving Alabama a competitive edge," 2 July 2017

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

First Known Use of turnaround

1926

turnaround Synonyms

Synonyms

about-turn [British], flip-flop, reversal, turnabout, about–face, U-turn, volte-face

turn around

verb

Definition of turn around

intransitive verb

1 :to become changed for the better

2 :to act in an abrupt, different, or surprising manner —used with and

after three years he just turned around and left school

transitive verb

:to change for the better

turned her life around

See turn around defined for kids

First Known Use of turn around

1934

Financial Definition of TURNAROUND

turnaround

noun

What It Is

A turnaround occurs when a company takes successful steps to correct a period of deteriorating financial performance.

How It Works

To turn a business' financial results around, companies often obtain special financing for revitalization projects or hire managers with a proven track record of improving the financial results at struggling companies. Famous "turnaround" CEOs include Al "Chainsaw" Dunlap, who was hired in 1996 to turn Sunbeam around, or Jacques "The Knife" Nasser, who was tapped in 1999 to revitalize operations at Ford (NYSE: F).

Turnarounds frequently involve stabilizing the business and then cutting costs, reducing the workforce, selling superfluous assets, divesting entire divisions, retiring excess debt, and/or dramatically changing how the company markets or sells its products. In some cases, turnarounds also involve filing for bankruptcy in an effort to reduce/restructure heavy debt loads.

Why It Matters

Turnaround efforts can be risky and don't always end in success. According to a Harvard Business Review study, about 70% of all turnaround efforts fail. However, some companies -- like MCI and K-Mart -- have emerged from bankruptcy, addressed critical problems, and made gradual improvements.

By definition, companies in need of a turnaround have reported declining financial results, and many have seen their shares collapse as investors lost faith and sold their positions. As a result, companies seeking to turn around their operations often trade at a sharp discount. Such firms often capture the attention of value investors, particularly when there is a strong possibility that turnaround efforts are likely to deliver improved financial performance in the near future. In fact, the mere announcement that a company plans to engage in turnaround efforts often results in an increased stock price.

Source: Investing Answers

TURNAROUND Defined for English Language Learners

turnaround

play

noun

Definition of turnaround for English Language Learners

: the time it takes someone to receive, deal with, and return something
: the process of making something (such as an airplane) ready for use again after it has arrived at a place
: a complete change from a bad situation to a good situation, from one way of thinking to an opposite way of thinking, etc.