point of no return

noun
UK: /ˌpɔɪnt əv ˌnəʊ rɪˈtɜːn/
US: /ˌpɔɪnt əv ˌnoʊ rɪˈtɜːrn/

  1. The stage at which it is impossible to go back to how things were before.

    1. We've reached the point of no return in our relationship I think.
    2. Once the company committed to the merger, they passed the point of no return.

  2. A moment when you have made a decision and cannot change it.

    1. He felt that accepting the offer was a point of no return.
    2. The climbers knew that reaching the summit would mean passing the point of no return due to dwindling supplies.

Synonyms

turning point the rubicon
point of no return adjective

  1. Describe a situation that has progressed so far that it can't be changed or reversed.

    1. Once the project started, it was point of no return situation.
    2. Having invested so much time and money, the entrepreneur knew they were at a point of no return.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "point of no return" in English means: The stage at which it is impossible to go back to how things were before., A moment when you have made a decision and cannot change it..

The phonetic transcription of "point of no return" is /ˌpɔɪnt əv ˌnəʊ rɪˈtɜːn/ in British English and /ˌpɔɪnt əv ˌnoʊ rɪˈtɜːrn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "point of no return": turning point, the rubicon.

Example usage of "point of no return": "We've reached the point of no return in our relationship I think.". More examples on the page.