noun

turnaround

/ˈtɜːrnəˌraʊnd/ · say it: TER·nuh·rownd

a recovery after a bad period

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) a change from a bad situation to a good one; improvement

2. (noun) the time it takes to complete a process or deliver something

3. (noun) a place where a vehicle can turn around and go back in the opposite direction

Examples

1. The company's turnaround was impressive—profits doubled in one year.
2. The turnaround time for repairs is usually five business days.
3. We need to find a turnaround before we can head back home.

How to use turnaround

Turnaround commonly refers to positive change in business or sports contexts (a dramatic turnaround in sales), or to the duration needed to complete a task (a 24-hour turnaround). It can also mean a physical U-turn location or point, though this is less frequent. The term is positive when describing recovery and neutral when describing time or place.

Common phrases

quick turnaround
dramatic turnaround
turnaround time
rapid turnaround
impressive turnaround
turnaround point

Synonyms

turnaround · improvement · recovery · turnaround time · reversal

Opposites

deterioration · decline · slump

Word family

turn around (verb phrase) · turnaround (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use turnaround for any kind of change rather than specifically positive change or improvement, or confuse the time sense with timeline.

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