turn about

action movement

The phrase "turn about" can describe physical movement or metaphorical changes in position or behavior.

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Definition

B2General

(common)A change in direction or position.

Example

The ship made a sudden turn about to avoid the iceberg.

C1Policy and Opinion

(formal)A reversal in policy, opinion, or behavior.

Example

The government's turn about on environmental policies surprised many voters.

B2Reciprocal Actions

(common)An act of responding in kind to another action.

Example

In a turn about of events, the rival team helped their opponents after the match.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "turn about":

turn around turn round turn again turn to turn against take a turn turn back round turn on the turn turn the corner turn over turn in ill turn turn of foot round the bend wheel around round about go round go around turn on its head left turn heel turn turn out turn into turn aside change tack turn turtle look round by turns turn away turning circle flip over come around arse about face in turn turning point turn inside-out circle back turn with every wind revolve around turn on come round turn one's back change of tack handbrake turn turn two look around turn upside down get around turn one's coat come full circle turnabout is fair play bring round turn flukes go about round and round turn the page run around turn down round the twist