about-face

noun

ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās How to pronounce about-face (audio)
Synonyms of about-facenext
1
: a 180 degree turn to the right from the position of attention
2
: a reversal of direction
3
: a reversal of attitude, behavior, or point of view
about-face intransitive verb

Synonyms of about-face

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Examples of about-face in a Sentence

the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As for touch-screen controls, assuming this debuts, this will be a massive about-face for Apple, which for ages has shrugged aside the effectiveness and necessity of touch screens on laptops. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026 The White House and Vance’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his rhetorical about-face. — Eli Hager, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026 Bearish analysts at Bank of America did an about-face on Salesforce — jumping over to the believers camp, where Jim Cramer has been all along in the face of artificial intelligence threats. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 The move was an about-face from December when city leaders approved a rezoning to allow a computing campus that developers later proposed would be more than twice the floor space of Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for about-face

Word History

Etymology

from the imperative phrase about face, from about entry 1 + face entry 2

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of about-face was in 1835

Rhymes for about-face

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Browse Nearby Words

about
about-face
about good
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Cite this Entry

“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

about-face

noun
ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās
1
: a reversal of direction
2
: a reversal of attitude or point of view
about-face verb
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