turnaround

[turn-uh-round]

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.

turnaround

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turnaround¹

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

Example Sentences

Even record state and federal funding failed to fuel a quick turnaround.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A resurgence in travel demand in recent weeks should carry through the fourth quarter of this year, marking a turnaround from a turbulent start to 2025.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The company’s own fab execution remains key to any sustainable turnaround, they say, noting that the company’s outlook currently lacks visibility and its narrative remains weak.

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A sluggish Kentucky bourbon market is taking its toll on distilleries, derailing a turnaround plan for one spirits maker and driving others to bankruptcy.

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“You know when you’re in a turnaround, right, it doesn’t always translate every single day to what you wanted to,” he said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• U-turn 
• turnabout