about-face

noun

ə-ˈbau̇t-ˈfās How to pronounce about-face (audio)
Synonyms of about-facenext
1
: a 180° 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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Then, on Monday night, the district appeared to do an about-face on its initial directions via an email to principals. — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026 Thomson’s about-face over the movies might be a surprise, but that a critic of his stature would wrestle with cinema’s enduring value is not. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The sales are an about-face for a company that has staked its business on accumulating, not dumping, Bitcoin. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 6 July 2026 The price action is a brutal about-face for investors who couldn't get enough of hardware stocks tied to the artificial intelligence buildout. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 9 June 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 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on about-face

Nglish: Translation of about-face for Spanish Speakers

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