What does "turnaround" mean?
The act of turning to face in the other direction.
Turnaround
/ˈtɜːnəˌɹaʊnd/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of turning to face in the other direction.
- Grammar: turnaround is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: reversal, turnabout, about face, about-face.
- Useful contrasts: consistency, continuity, dead end.
- Usage evidence: Any turnaround of the economy is not expected this year.
How to use "turnaround"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "turnaround" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "turnaround" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "turnaround" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "turnaround" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "turnaround" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "reversal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "turnaround", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of turning to face in the other direction. countable, uncountable
"The basketball player made a turnaround jump shot."
- 2 turning in the opposite direction wordnet
- 3 A reversal of policy. countable, uncountable
- 4 act or process of unloading and loading and servicing a vessel or aircraft for a return trip wordnet
- 5 The carrying out of a task; the time required to carry it out. countable, uncountable
"They tried to reduce their turnaround on incoming paperwork."
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 an area sufficiently large for a vehicle to turn around wordnet
- 7 A turnabout; a reversal of circumstances. countable, uncountable
"Drogba's goal early in the second half - his fourth in this Wembley showpiece - proved decisive as the remarkable turnaround in Chelsea's fortunes under interim manager Roberto di Matteo was rewarded with silverware."
- 8 a decision to reverse an earlier decision wordnet
- 9 A series of sketches of a character as seen from different angles. countable, uncountable
"Many media arts companies use turnarounds to ensure that when you draw the character you know what it looks like from the front, the side and the back."
- 10 time need to prepare a vessel or ship for a return trip wordnet
- 11 A cadence linking the end of a verse to the beginning of the next. countable, uncountable
- 12 The notation for the addition of a grace note above then below a given note. countable, uncountable
- 13 Synonym of goback. US, countable, historical, uncountable
- 14 The scheduled shutdown of an industrial plant, such as an oil rig, for maintenance and testing. countable, uncountable
- 15 A contractual provision by which, if the studio elects to abandon a film project, the producer has a limited period in which to sell it elsewhere. countable, uncountable
- 16 Preparations for takeoff, such as loading and servicing. countable, uncountable
- 17 The relaying of a satellite signal. countable, uncountable
"A new company […] has been set up to provide satellite turnaround and fiber connectivity facilities between Asia and Europe."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Any turnaround of the economy is not expected this year."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "turnaround"?
Common synonyms include: reversal, turnabout, about face, about-face, about-face, about-turn.
How do you use "turnaround" in a sentence?
Any turnaround of the economy is not expected this year.
How do you pronounce "turnaround"?
Pronounced /ˈtɜːnəˌɹaʊnd/.
Etymology
Deverbal from turn around.