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 coming, sudden U-turn in the policy output of the U.S. government is a reminder that elections have serious consequences in the short term. G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2024 Flight tracking data shows that a plane departed from Damascus airport at just before 2 a.m. local time on Sunday in the direction of the coast before making a sudden U-turn over the city of Homs and disappearing off the map. Sophie Tanno, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024 The aircraft initially flew toward Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, before making an abrupt U-turn and disappearing from tracking systems. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024 In an abrupt U-turn Friday, Han Dong-hoon—head of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party—called for the president to be suspended from office quickly, increasing the chances he’ll be impeached in a vote set to take place over the next few days. Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 6 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near U-turn

Cite this Entry

“U-turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/U-turn. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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