point of no return
English Meaning & Definitions
The critical point in a journey, process, or undertaking beyond which it is impossible to reverse one's course, stop, or go back.
- “Once the rocket launched, it quickly passed the point of no return.”
- “They knew that signing the contract would take their business past the point of no return.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “point of no return”.
Originally a technical term in aviation and rocketry, referring to the exact moment during a flight or journey when an aircraft or spacecraft no longer has enough fuel to return to its point of departure and must continue onward to its destination or an alternative. Over time, the phrase expanded metaphorically into general usage to describe any critical juncture in a process, relationship, or decision from which it is impossible to turn back.
Imagine driving past the last possible highway exit before a massive toll bridge—once you pass it, you are committed to the drive. That is your point of no return.
Frequently Asked Questions About “point of no return”
1. What is the meaning of “point of no return” in English?
In English, point of no return (noun) is defined as: “The critical point in a journey, process, or undertaking beyond which it is impossible to reverse one's course, stop, or go back.”.
2. How do you use “point of no return” in a sentence?
“Once the rocket launched, it quickly passed the point of no return.”
3. What are English synonyms of “point of no return”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “point of no return”?
Originally a technical term in aviation and rocketry, referring to the exact moment during a flight or journey when an aircraft or spacecraft no longer has enough fuel to return to its point of departure and must continue onward to its destination or an alternative. Over time, the phrase expanded metaphorically into general usage to describe any critical juncture in a process, relationship, or decision from which it is impossible to turn back.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.