turning point
Americannoun
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a point at which a decisive change takes place; critical point; crisis.
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a point at which something changes direction, especially a high or low point on a graph.
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Surveying. a point temporarily located and marked in order to establish the elevation or position of a surveying instrument at a new station.
noun
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a moment when the course of events is changed
the turning point of his career
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a point at which there is a change in direction or motion
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maths a stationary point at which the first derivative of a function changes sign, so that typically its graph does not cross a horizontal tangent
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surveying a point to which a foresight and a backsight are taken in levelling; change point
Etymology
Origin of turning point
First recorded in 1850–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Turning point: Vice President Harris faces a critical moment as President Biden passes the halfway point of his term.
From Washington Post • Jan. 30, 2023
Nat Travis, from addiction charity Turning point, said a well-known person speaking out was a boost for organisations looking to encourage people to access help and support.
From BBC • Jul. 28, 2022
He pinned that letter to his Twitter feed a few years ago, with the comment: “August 21, 2000. Turning point in my academic career.”
From Scientific American • Sep. 25, 2017
Frame 15 - Turning point? 50-39 behind, Carter missed a tricky brown after a red as Bingham cleared from yellow to pink to close to 8-7.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2016
Turning point in my life at the Yale Commencement of 1856; Dr. Wayland's speech.
From Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White — Volume 1 by White, Andrew Dickson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
