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tournant

tournant

9.9
A time when an important change happens in a story or process
  • noun
  • /tʊrˈnɑːnt/
translation icon : punto de inflexión
  • Her decision to move abroad was the tournant that changed her life.

Examples

  • The discovery of the new evidence marked a tournant in the investigation.

  • The election proved to be a tournant in the country's political history.

  • The tournant in her career came when she won the award.

  • This novel marks a significant tournant in the protagonist's life.

  • The discovery of the new evidence marked a tournant in the investigation.

  • Her decision to move abroad was the tournant that changed her life.

  • The election proved to be a tournant in the country's political history.

Synonyms

turn
vstournant
343 3.4

A sudden change in a situation or story

is about an important change, not only sudden or unexpected shifts
turning point
vstournant
104 3.7

A moment when an important event changes what happens next

is used the same way especially in stories and processes
tipping point
vstournant
43 5.3

A moment when a small event causes a big, lasting change

refers to important change without stressing irreversibility or speed
turn of events
vstournant
35 4.1

A sudden change in a situation that makes plans or results different

highlights a critical change point rather than just an unexpected twist
cusp
vstournant
16 6.3

A point in time when something is about to change

refers to the moment when the change actually happens
landmark
vstournant
16 4.4

An important event that marks a big change in history or progress

focuses on a critical moment of change, not just a marker
watershed moment
vstournant
6 6.3

An event that causes a very important change in a person's life or history

is similar but often used for shifts within a story or process
inflection point
vstournant
4 7.5

A moment when a situation changes in an important way

is broader, applying to narratives and general turning moments
pivotal point
vstournant
2 4.9

A moment when an important change happens or people make a key decision

emphasizes the change itself rather than deciding the final outcome
change of life
vstournant
1 5.6

A big life event that changes how a person lives or thinks

is about a specific decisive moment rather than a long personal period

Antonyms

19 6.8

A period when activity and growth stop, often in business or the economy

How Critical

tipping point
43 5.3
tournant
9.9
turning point
104 3.7
change
1.1

Surface Forms

tournant singular
tournants plural

Etymology

The word tournant comes from the French tourner, 'to turn', and it names a moment when things change direction. So a tournant is a turning point — a critical moment when events move in a new way.