turnaround

A "turnaround" is a strong word for a complete reversal in a situation, usually from a bad state to a better one. It suggests that something such as a company, a sports team, or even a person's health was doing poorly but has changed course. In business, a "turnaround strategy" is a plan meant to save a failing organization by changing the way it works. The word often carries the idea of effort, planning, and success after real difficulty.

The word also has an important practical meaning in phrases like "turnaround time." Here, it means the time needed to finish a task after it is received or started. For example, a "two-week turnaround on repairs" means the repairs will be completed within two weeks. In this sense, a "quick turnaround" suggests speed and efficiency.

Think of a turnaround as a hopeful change in direction. It suggests that after setbacks, things are starting to improve. It can describe a recovery from illness, a business moving from loss to profit, or a project completed faster than expected. In each case, the word signals that the situation has shifted in a better direction.