# turnaround

/ˈtɝnɝˌaʊnd/ (US) · /tˈɜːnɐɹˌaʊnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turnaround
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. reversal of a situation

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The company's turnaround was amazing after they hired the new manager.
- The CEO was credited with the dramatic financial turnaround that saved the firm from bankruptcy within a single fiscal year.

### 2. processing time

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The dry cleaners promised a twenty-four-hour turnaround for my suit.
- Clients have come to expect a rapid turnaround on digital assets, often requiring final edits within hours of the initial shoot.

### 3. aircraft servicing

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The airline reduced its turnaround time to keep the planes flying more often.
- Efficient ground crews are essential for maintaining a thirty-minute turnaround, ensuring the carrier remains profitable on short-haul routes.

### 4. musical transition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The guitarist played a classic blues turnaround to start the next verse.
- The jazz pianist used a sophisticated turnaround to transition seamlessly from the solo back into the main theme of the composition.

### 5. character design

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The animator looked at the character turnaround to make sure the hair looked right from behind.
- Before production begins, the lead artist must approve the turnaround for every major character to maintain visual continuity across different scenes.

## Examples

- The dry cleaner offers a 24-hour turnaround.
- The new CEO managed a remarkable turnaround, taking the company from debt to profit in just one year.
- The logistics firm attributed its market dominance to an industry-leading turnaround on international shipping, coupled with a strategic pivot toward sustainable packaging solutions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.