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

Examples of about-face in a Sentence

the candidate's frequent about-faces on issues disturbs many voters
Recent Examples on the Web The Post has similarly been critiqued for the last-minute about-face. Liam Reilly, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024 The latter has been best exemplified in the remarkable about-face by the premier association of American CEOs, the Business Roundtable. Michael Useem, Fortune Asia, 24 Oct. 2024 The third payment, which is the one that triggered Taylor’s about-face, would give them a control stake in both teams; the fourth would buy out Taylor entirely. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2024 The disappointing follow-through from officials has caused hedge funds to do an about-face on the trade , selling Chinese equities in record numbers recently. Yun Li, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for about-face 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'about-face.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near about-face

Cite this Entry

“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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

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