How to Pronounce About-face

To pronounce "about-face", say AB-outf-ac-e — 4 syllables, IPA /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

about-face

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Accent

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4

Syllables

10

Letters

/əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “about-face”

"about-face" has 4 syllables: ab-outf-ac-e.

What does about-face mean?

noun

  1. An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.

    “The soldier did an about-face and marched off.”

  2. A reversal in direction; reversal of attitude or opinion.

    “When Luke heard the news, he did an abrupt about-face on the policy.”

verb

  1. To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction

    “The soldiers would about-face immediately after the order was given.”

  2. To change opinion or attitude drastically.

    “A politician will about-face at the drop of a hat if he thinks there are votes in it.”

Related words

volte-facereversalabout-turnu-turnturnaroundturnupturnturnover

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "about-face"?▾

"About-face" has 4 syllables: ab · outf · ac · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "about-face"?▾

The IPA transcription of "about-face" is /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/.

What does "about-face" mean?▾

About-face: An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.

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