1
: a turn resembling the letter U
especially : a 180-degree turn made by a vehicle in a road
2
: something (such as a reversal of policy) resembling a U-turn

Examples of U-turn in a Sentence

an abrupt U-turn of her support for the candidate after hearing the news of his misdeeds
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.
The Florida Highway Patrol said an SUV carrying four 18-year-olds collided on April 21 with a tractor trailer making a U-turn in the paved median of U.S. 98 in Walton County, Florida, located along the Panhandle, near Panama City Beach. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 The tariff war and apparent U-turn over deliveries comes as Boeing has been recovering from an almost five-year import freeze on 737 MAX jets and a previous round of trade tensions. Reuters, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025 Anna Barclay | Getty Images News | Getty Images Oil giant BP is bracing itself for a shareholder backlash at its annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday, with a chorus of disgruntled investors planning to voice their concerns over the firm’s green strategy U-turn. Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025 That’s when the same blue car that hit the motorcyclist made a U-turn and started driving back toward the crash, according to authorities. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for U-turn

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of U-turn was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“U-turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/U-turn. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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