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

But the late 1990s merger between Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Chrysler hardly led to a turnaround for the namesake brand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The event marks a joyous turnaround for the eagles, who lost a first clutch in late January.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Mangione's lawyers requested the delays because they argued the tight turnaround would make it impossible to prepare adequately for both.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The slowdown raised questions about whether PayPal’s turnaround efforts were working.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

My shaky performance in Chicago had shown me that I needed a serious turnaround in my gymnastics, and I was grateful to everyone who’d encouraged me to face my mistakes and focus on the positive.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

• U-turn
• turnabout