point of no return

American  

noun

1. Aviation. the point in a flight at which an aircraft will lack sufficient fuel to return to its starting point.

2. the critical point in an undertaking, decision-making process, etc., where one has committed oneself irrevocably to a course of action or policy.

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point of no return British  

noun

1. a point at which an irreversible commitment must be made to an action, progression, etc

2. a point in a journey at which, if one continues, supplies will be insufficient for a return to the starting place

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point of no return Idioms  

1. The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible. For example, Once the contract is signed, we've reached the point of no return. This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point. [c. 1940]

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Etymology

Origin of point of no return

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

point of no return

I reach a point of no return by late afternoon, when I stop to relax over dinner, then write or brainstorm for a couple more hours.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

The point of no return is already in the rearview mirror, and the road ahead is flanked by pain.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

At the microscopic level, the bridge allows information to pass across what appears to us as an event horizon – a point of no return.

From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026

Reaching net zero will be "a big challenge but there needs to be a big focus on it so the planet doesn't get past the point of no return", he added.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

Ben relaxed once the point of no return was reached.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy