U-turn

American  

[yoo-turn] / ˈjuˌtɜrn /

noun

• U-turns
  plural

1. a U -shaped turn made by a vehicle so as to head in the opposite direction from its original course.

2. a reversal of policy, tactics, or the like, resembling such a maneuver.

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verb (used without object)

1. to execute a U-turn.

   to U-turn into oncoming traffic.

U-turn British  

noun

1. a turn made by a vehicle in the shape of a U, resulting in a reversal of direction

2. a complete change in direction of political or other policy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• U-turns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of U-turn

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

U-turn U-turns

Even so, it had no problem doing a U-turn by an out-of-the-way industrial park to get us heading north again.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

In December of that year, Officer Andy Ornelas, 27, was struck in Palmdale after a driver swung from the right shoulder to make a U-turn and ended up directly in his path.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

In a statement, Alliance's education spokesperson, and chair of the Education Committee, Nick Mathison also described the decision as a "U-turn".

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

All I know is that when Pebble Beach’s traffic control staff forced me to execute a tricky U-turn on a narrow road—at night, in front of witnesses—the Multistrada nosed around beautifully.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Bernabe negotiated a tight U-turn, paused to let a two-ton flatbed, piled high with hay bales from Colorado, zoom down the highway, then crossed the road and pulled over slightly ahead of Amarante.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Ship-tracking data shows at least eight ships bound for the Red Sea have made U-turns instead of entering the Bab al-Mandab Strait from the south as well.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Several other vessels including a vehicle carrier and an oil supertanker in the Gulf of Aden heading toward the Red Sea also made U-turns, according to financial data provider LSEG.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

He announced that he would resign as prime minister and Labour Party leader in June after a string of scandals, missteps and policy U-turns blighted his leadership.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

There have been more than a dozen big U-turns.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

With every step, frantic golden arrows appeared beneath his feet, bending into U-turns on the floor.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• change of mind
• reversal
• turnaround