turnaround

American  

[turn-uh-round] / ˈtɜrn əˌraʊnd /

noun

1. the total time consumed in the round trip of a ship, aircraft, vehicle, etc.

2. turnabout.

3. change of allegiance, opinion, mood, policy, etc.

4. a place or area having sufficient room for a vehicle to turn around.

5. the time required between receiving and finishing or processing work or materials.

6. Commerce.

   1. a reversal, as in business sales, especially from loss to profit.

   2. the time between the making of an investment and receiving a return.

7. Aviation. the elapsed time between an aircraft's arrival at an airfield terminal and its departure.

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turnaround British  

/ ˈtɜːnəˌraʊnd /

noun

1. 1. the act or process in which a ship, aircraft, etc, unloads passengers and freight at the end of a trip and reloads for the next trip

   2. the time taken for this

2. the total time taken by a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle in a round trip

3. a complete reversal of a situation or set of circumstances

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Etymology

Origin of turnaround

First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase turn around

Example Sentences

Williams appeared to poke fun at her own turnaround with a short ad video posted to X on Thursday captioned “I changed my mind.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Victoria’s Secret has said that the turnaround it has been working on over the past year depends on making its bras better.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

The dramatic turnaround came after authorities tightened regulations and introduced better gas monitoring systems and clearer accountability mechanisms.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Investors were encouraged to see that the company’s turnaround is showing progress.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

I pause in sorting out the turnaround, and I finally notice her.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

Related Words

• U-turn
• turnabout