to turn around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to turn around" is correct and is used commonly in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical movement of rotation or to indicate a quick change of opinion or direction. For example: She quickly turned around to avoid the angry dog.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're fighting to turn around".

The New York Times

It's going to turn around.

Independent

"I don't want to turn around".

The New York Times

The polls began to turn around.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Schools have to turn around from within.

The New York Times

"And then he starts to turn around.

The New Yorker

But things began to turn around.

The New York Times - Travel

The captain decided to turn around.

The New York Times

"But it's going to turn around".

The New York Times - Sports

Things are beginning to turn around.

The New York Times

She tells them to turn around.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to turn around" when you want to convey a significant improvement or reversal of a negative situation, such as "to turn around a failing company".

Common error

Avoid using "to turn around" too frequently in purely physical contexts (e.g., walking). Simpler verbs like "turn" or "rotate" might be more appropriate and less distracting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to turn around" primarily functions as an infinitive verb phrase. It is frequently used to express the action of changing direction, condition, or strategy. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to turn around" is a versatile infinitive verb phrase commonly used to describe a reversal or improvement in a situation. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and business. When writing, it's best used to convey a significant positive change, but avoid overuse in simple physical descriptions. For alternative phrasing, consider "to reverse course" or "to pivot", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to reverse course

Implies a change of direction, often suggesting a return to a previous state or strategy.

to change direction

Indicates a shift in the path being followed, either literally or figuratively.

to do an about-face

Suggests a complete reversal of opinion or policy.

to pivot

Implies a strategic shift, especially in business or technology.

to make a U-turn

Indicates a sharp reversal in direction or policy.

to backtrack

Suggests retracting a statement or reversing a decision.

to alter course

Implies modifying the current path or strategy.

to shift gears

Suggests changing the approach or strategy to achieve a different outcome.

to redeem oneself

Implies an action to restore oneself, usually after a mistake or failure.

to recover

Suggests improving from a negative situation or state.

FAQs

What does "to turn around" mean?

The phrase "to turn around" can mean to rotate physically or to reverse a situation, often implying improvement or change for the better.

How can I use "to turn around" in a sentence?

You can use "to turn around" to describe improving a bad situation, such as "The new CEO managed "to turn around" the struggling company".

What are some alternatives to "to turn around"?

Depending on the context, you could use "to reverse course", "to change direction", or "to pivot" as alternatives to "to turn around".

Is it correct to use "to turn around" in a business context?

Yes, it is correct. In business, "to turn around" often refers to improving the performance or profitability of a company or project.