turning point
Americannoun
-
turning points
plural
-
a point at which a decisive change takes place; critical point; crisis.
-
a point at which something changes direction, especially a high or low point on a graph.
-
Surveying. a point temporarily located and marked in order to establish the elevation or position of a surveying instrument at a new station.
noun
-
a moment when the course of events is changed
the turning point of his career
-
a point at which there is a change in direction or motion
-
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
-
surveying a point to which a foresight and a backsight are taken in levelling; change point
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
“That was a turning point for me. I realized this wasn’t about public safety—it was about liability.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
It was seen as a key turning point in the war, which ended with the defeat of the Tigers in 2009.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The all-electric Semi gives Tesla a way into the autonomous trucking industry, which Morgan Stanley analysts see reaching a turning point in 2027.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
It was a turning point in 21st-century history.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
This birthday felt like a turning point for me.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
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.
