as in reversal
a changing from one policy or point of view to virtually its exact opposite
more than one London newspaper accused the prime minister of doing an about-turn on the issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of about-turn
The revelations represent a stunning about-turn in a case for which Azevedo had yet to appear in court to face felony charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency, which could carry up to 20 years on the most serious count.
—
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Talk of retribution is precisely the opposite of what markets had hoped for, and is a further about-turn from the White House on relations with Beijing.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Also on March 10, a federal judge ruled that the department is required to make its records public, an about-turn for the agency that has been mired in secrecy, according to Forbes.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The announcement is a dramatic about-turn for a Republican president.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Trent makes an about-turn and decides to follow the light.
—Vulture, 22 Mar. 2023
Under Leahy’s watch, Glossier launched at Sephora in February 2023, marking an about-turn from its prior DTC strategy and adopting a more traditional retail playbook.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Talk of retribution is precisely the opposite of what markets had hoped for, and is a further about-turn from the White House on relations with Beijing.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Also on March 10, a federal judge ruled that the department is required to make its records public, an about-turn for the agency that has been mired in secrecy, according to Forbes.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
The announcement is a dramatic about-turn for a Republican president.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
Trent makes an about-turn and decides to follow the light.
—Vulture, 22 Mar. 2023
Under Leahy’s watch, Glossier launched at Sephora in February 2023, marking an about-turn from its prior DTC strategy and adopting a more traditional retail playbook.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for about-turn
Noun
-
Against it stands any interest in deploying them for the use-value of reversal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The gains mark a reversal from the prior day’s dip as big technology stocks once again lead the broader market.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Britain is not the only country pressed into making a volte-face.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
Daryna Mayer,
NBC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“About-turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/about-turn. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share