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.
Wu and Tsai also scrapped plans to list Cainiao, Alibaba’s logistics arm, marking a U-turn on previous commitments. Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2025 Their immediate concern, and the main catalyst for Germany’s startling defense policy U-turn, is the war in Ukraine. Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2025 The call marks a U-turn on years of US foreign policy and takes European allies by surprise. Antoinette Radford, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025 Public Support for Climate Action A U-turn on climate action is both intellectually dishonest and an electoral loser. David Carlin, Forbes, 24 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“U-turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/U-turn. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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