turning point

American  

noun

1. a point at which a decisive change takes place; critical point; crisis.

2. a point at which something changes direction, especially a high or low point on a graph.

3. Surveying. a point temporarily located and marked in order to establish the elevation or position of a surveying instrument at a new station.

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turning point British  

noun

1. a moment when the course of events is changed

   the turning point of his career

2. a point at which there is a change in direction or motion

3. 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

4. surveying a point to which a foresight and a backsight are taken in levelling; change point

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Etymology

Origin of turning point

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

It could be a turning point for the fledgling government, but it’s very unclear in what direction.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

The study examined more than 200 years of global population data and identified a major turning point in human population trends that began during the mid twentieth century.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

According to an Erewhon employee I spoke to, this smoothie was a turning point.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said the visit did not necessarily mean "we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation".

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

But my freshman year of high school wasn't just a significant turning point in my relationship with Samira.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• climax
• critical point
• crux
• culmination
• juncture
• twist