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
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.
That is a startling about-face in positional value by Schoen after letting Xavier McKinney walk to a first-team All-Pro season in Green Bay on a four-year, $67 million deal with $23 million guaranteed. Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025 But its decision to about-face on what executives long cast as a sacrosanct passenger perk brings the largest U.S. domestic carrier in line with its rivals, which together generated more than $5 billion from bag fees last year, according to federal data. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025 The about-face on what had seemed to be the most viable new shelter proposal in the region raises deep questions about how Central Florida is ever going to expand its supply of shelter beds, since such proposals almost invariably face not-in-my-backyard protests. Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025 In 2015, the Instagram star did a stunning about-face, admitting she had never been diagnosed with the terminal illness and essentially exposing herself as a fraud to her fans. Julia Bonavita, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“About-face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/about-face. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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