ABOUT-FACE
Dictionary entry overview: What does about-face mean?
• ABOUT-FACE (noun)
The noun ABOUT-FACE has 2 senses:
1. act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation
2. a major change in attitude or principle or point of view
Familiarity information: ABOUT-FACE used as a noun is rare.
• ABOUT-FACE (verb)
The verb ABOUT-FACE has 2 senses:
1. turn, usually 180 degrees
2. change one's mind and assume the opposite viewpoint
Familiarity information: ABOUT-FACE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• ABOUT-FACE (noun)
Meaning:
Act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
about turn; about-face
Hypernyms ("about-face" is a kind of...):
reversal; reverse; reversion; turnabout; turnaround (turning in the opposite direction)
Meaning:
A major change in attitude or principle or point of view
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
policy change; volte-face; about-face; reversal
Context example:
an about-face on foreign policy
Hypernyms ("about-face" is a kind of...):
change (the action of changing something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "about-face"):
undoing (an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done))
• ABOUT-FACE (verb)
Meaning:
Turn, usually 180 degrees
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "about-face" is one way to...):
turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Change one's mind and assume the opposite viewpoint
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "about-face" is one way to...):
rethink (change one's mind)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
