Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
👔 A folded part 🔄 A place to reverse ↩️ A retreat
turnback

turnback

4.4
A decision to stop a journey and go back because of a problem
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜrnˌbæk/
  • UK
translation icon : retorno
  • The hiker had to make a turnback due to the storm.

Examples

  • The pilot announced a turnback to the airport because of engine trouble.

  • After seeing the flooded road ahead, the group decided on a turnback for safety.

  • Due to heavy snow, the hikers had to call a turnback before reaching the summit.

  • After realizing they were lost, they decided on a turnback.

  • The unexpected rain forced us to make a turnback on our hike.

  • After realizing we were lost, we decided to take a turnback before heading farther into the woods.

  • The airline announced a turnback due to technical issues shortly after takeoff.

Synonyms

reversal
vsturnback
25 4.2

A change to the opposite direction or position, for example when wind turns

is specifically a retreat from an intended course or planned action
turnabout
vsturnback
10 6.0

A complete change to the opposite view or decision

is used for moving away from a planned course rather than any reversal
turnaround
vsturnback
8 4.4

A place where vehicles change direction to go back

is about retreating from a planned course or action rather than a location or device
reverse
vsturnback
4 4.2

A sudden change to the opposite direction or a setback that stops progress

is focused on retreating from a planned course or action rather than any misfortune
change of course
vsturnback
3 4.2

A move to a different direction physically or in plans

is specifically a retreat from an intended journey or planned action
reversion
vsturnback
3 6.9

A return to an earlier state or condition

is a withdrawal from an intended plan or route rather than merely returning to before
going backward
vsturnback
1 3.7

Moving back to an earlier state instead of making progress

is specifically a retreat from a planned course or journey rather than general regression
180
vsturnback
  • Informal
1 4.4

A complete change of direction or opinion

is about withdrawing from a planned course rather than just any reversal
backtracking
vsturnback
1 5.5

Changing a previous promise, decision, or opinion

is a physical or planned retreat from a course rather than only a statement change
backflip
vsturnback
  • Literature
1 6.6

A sudden public change of a decision or promise

is a general retreat from a planned action rather than a sudden public flip
about turn
vsturnback
  • Jargon
1 5.8

A complete change of direction or opinion, often sudden

is a retreat from a planned route or decision rather than a formal command
u-turn
vsturnback
3.2

A complete turn to go the opposite way, like a car on the road

is a retreat from a planned route or action rather than only a vehicle maneuver
retracement
vsturnback
7.2

Going back over a route to return to a previous point

is broader, covering any retreat from a planned course or action
backdown
vsturnback
6.2

An act of taking back a public statement or plan after pressure

is a withdrawal from an intended course or journey rather than mere concession

Antonyms

to proceed
763 3.0

Begin or continue an action after a pause, often as planned

to advance
417 3.4

To help something move forward or become better

How Complete

to about-face
  • Literature
3 6.7
turnback
  • UK
4.4
to backtrack
42 4.3
deviation
25 5.3
swerve
7 3.7

Surface Forms

turnback singular
turnbacks plural

Morphology

turnback = turn (transparent) = back + turn

A straightforward compound where the noun names the action of turning back; the components transparently indicate reversal. [Postprocessing: moved 'back' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word turnback is formed from turn and back, meaning to change direction and go back. So a turnback is the act of reversing course or deciding to go back from a planned route or action.