turnaround

1 of 2

noun

turn·​around ˈtərn-ə-ˌrau̇nd 

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 sense 1a

a corporate turnaround

b

: turnabout sense 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

turn around

2 of 2

verb

turned around; turning around; turns 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

Synonyms of turnaround

Noun

• reversal

Examples of turnaround in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web

Noun

To put it into proportion, imagine not only launching the smaller, yet still skyscraper-sized Apollo-era Saturn V and then expecting to not only get the entire rocket back, but reuse it again after a fast turnaround. — New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026

Quick turnaround, quick reset Following a celebration in the clubhouse after Sunday's win, the Phillies had a quick flight to Atlanta for Monday's workout. — CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

Like, for example, USC, which played a road game in New Jersey, then turned around and played a home game in LA a week later. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Falcon 9’s first stage can instead turn around and land while its second stage continues carrying a payload toward orbit; NASA documented exactly that sequence during SpaceX’s first successful orbital-class booster landing in 2015. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1888, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for turnaround

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• ultrasound
• underground
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background

Kids Definition

turnaround

1 of 2 noun

turn·​around ˈtər-nə-ˌrau̇nd 

1

: turnabout

2

: the time needed for one complete cycle or round trip from start to destination and back

turn around

2 of 2 verb

1

: to act in a sudden, different, or surprising manner

he just turned around and left home

2

: to change for the better

turned her life around