About Face Definition & Meaning

Definition

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms about face 1 American

interjection

1. (used as a military command to perform an about-face.)

about-face 2 American [uh-bout-feys, uh-bout-feys, uh-bout-feys] / əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs, əˈbaʊtˈfeɪs, əˌbaʊtˈfeɪs /

noun

1. Military. a turn of 180° from the position of attention.

2. a complete, sudden change in position, direction, principle, attitude, etc..

   They've done an about-face in their foreign policy.

verb (used without object)

about-faced, about-facing

1. to execute an about face.

2. to turn in the opposite direction.

3. to switch to an opposite opinion.

Etymology

Origin of about face1

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Origin of about-face2

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“About Face” is a column about how someone changed their mind.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a sudden about face, and with less than 48 hours to go before the G20 conference, the US announced that it would be sending a small team of its in-country diplomats to the handover ceremony, but that it wouldn't take part in any discussions.

From BBC

“Especially given the about face on the prior China restrictions, we are optimistic that quarterly China sales could stabilize sooner rather than later,” Chin said.

From MarketWatch

One of the boat passengers is Zue Jernstedt, a veteran and member of About Face: Veterans Against the War.

From Slate

Tells us, @_timhernandez, what was the moment you realized you needed an about face?

From Washington Times

Related Words

• U-turn
• policy change
• reversal
• turnabout
• turnaround

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.