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Synonyms

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

It was also considered a turning point for interest in electric vehicles, as sales surged.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The latest deal doesn’t mark a turning point for Lilly, as the company has spelled out its AI ambitions for years.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Having to be substituted because of the pain was a turning point for the Everton forward, and the start of her journey towards an endometriosis diagnosis.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Spitzer said the big turning point for Netflix in this arena was the November 2024 fight between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTube influencer Jake Paul.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

This was a major turning point in human history.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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.