Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

about-face

/əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.40 in modern English

Syllables
about--face
IPA
/əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From about + face, first attested in 1861, used in the imperative in the military.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce about-face?
The recorded pronunciation is /əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/.
What does about-face mean?
An abrupt turn to face the opposite direction.
Where does about-face come from?
From about + face, first attested in 1861, used in the imperative in the military.

How to pronounce about-face

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “about-face”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈbaʊtˌfeɪs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “about-face”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “about-face” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.