English Reference
noun

turnaround

n.
US /ˈtɝnɝˌaʊnd/ UK /tˈɜːnɐɹˌaʊnd/ turn·around UK spelling turnarounds

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a complete change from a bad situation to a good one, or a change in a plan.

    a complete reversal of a situation, policy, or opinion, often resulting in a positive outcome after a period of failure.

    Simple

    The company's turnaround was amazing after they hired the new manager.

    In context

    The CEO was credited with the dramatic financial turnaround that saved the firm from bankruptcy within a single fiscal year.

    reversalturnaboutrecovery
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the time it takes to receive something, deal with it, and send it back.

    the amount of time taken to complete a process or task, from the initial request to the final delivery.

    Simple

    The dry cleaners promised a twenty-four-hour turnaround for my suit.

    In context

    Clients have come to expect a rapid turnaround on digital assets, often requiring final edits within hours of the initial shoot.

    lead timeprocessing time
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Aviation

    the time an airplane spends on the ground being cleaned and loaded before its next flight.

    the period during which an aircraft remains on the ground for unloading, servicing, and reloading between flights.

    Simple

    The airline reduced its turnaround time to keep the planes flying more often.

    In context

    Efficient ground crews are essential for maintaining a thirty-minute turnaround, ensuring the carrier remains profitable on short-haul routes.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    a short passage of music that leads back to the beginning of a section.

    a harmonic progression or passage that serves to lead the listener back to the beginning of a section or verse.

    Simple

    The guitarist played a classic blues turnaround to start the next verse.

    In context

    The jazz pianist used a sophisticated turnaround to transition seamlessly from the solo back into the main theme of the composition.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Art

    a set of drawings showing a character from the front, side, and back.

    a series of illustrations depicting a character from multiple angles to ensure consistency during the animation process.

    Simple

    The animator looked at the character turnaround to make sure the hair looked right from behind.

    In context

    Before production begins, the lead artist must approve the turnaround for every major character to maintain visual continuity across different scenes.

    model sheet

Royal Mail has once again missed its delivery targets for first and second class post, but said it is making progress towards the goals as its turnaround plan continues.

BBC News· 21 Aug 2026

Target is in the middle of a turnaround plan, with the retailer saying it had cut prices on more than 10,000 items over the past year.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

Deverbal from turn around.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated