about-face I. \ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\noun (-s) Etymology: from the imperative phrase about face, from about (I) + face, v. 1.: the act of facing in the opposite direction as a military maneuver < soldiers did an about-face and marched away — Dorothy C. Fisher > 2. a.: a reversal of direction < the river does an about-face > b.: a reversal of attitude or point of view < an about-face on national policies > II. intransitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) : to execute an about-face