U-turn
Americannoun
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U-turns
plural
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a U -shaped turn made by a vehicle so as to head in the opposite direction from its original course.
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a reversal of policy, tactics, or the like, resembling such a maneuver.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a turn made by a vehicle in the shape of a U, resulting in a reversal of direction
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a complete change in direction of political or other policy
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of U-turn
First recorded in 1925–30
Vocabulary lists containing u-turn
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.
See Examples For:
MPs on the Treasury Committee called for a U-turn on that decision as part of a series of recommendations after an inquiry this summer.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Some assembly members have now accused the minister of making a "U-turn", with "substantial sums of public money" spent on drafting legislation "to fix his error of judgement".
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Making a U-turn, he added, is evidence of premeditation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Three hours into the tour, investigators alleged Hernandez-Umana attempted to speed through swell during a U-turn and swamped the bow.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
The car makes an abrupt stop, lurching us forward then sideways as Seven makes a wide U-turn.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
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
Starmer won a landslide general election victory two years ago - but he began losing public support within weeks of arriving in Downing Street after a series of polcy mis-steps and U-turns.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Starmer, under pressure for months over policy U-turns and questions about his judgement, announced on June 22 that he was resigning after losing the support of Labour MPs.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Already it has forced vessels to go dark, make sudden U-turns and rely on U.S. protection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 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
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.
