point of no return

noun phrase

Synonyms of point of no returnnext
1
: the point in the flight of an aircraft beyond which the remaining fuel will be insufficient for a return to the starting point with the result that the craft must proceed
2
: a critical point at which turning back or reversal is not possible
If you signed the contract, you already reached the point of no return.

Examples of point of no return in a Sentence

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.
However, that road could lead them to the point of no return. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2026 The Republican Party has long since passed the point of no return. Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 On one hand, there’s perhaps no more honest depiction of a relationship between a parent and their adult child having hit a wall, and a point of no return. Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 18 May 2026 It’s expected to reach that point of no return in October, according to the latest estimates. Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for point of no return

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of point of no return was in 1941

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Cite this Entry

“Point of no return.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20of%20no%20return. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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