point of no return

noun phrase

1
: the point in the flight of an aircraft beyond which the remaining fuel will be insufficient for a return to the starting point with the result that the craft must proceed
2
: a critical point at which turning back or reversal is not possible

Examples of point of no return in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But what happens when the conflict has gone too far and has reached a point of no return? Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2024 In short, Gaza is on the brink of a humanitarian, and possibly political, point of no return. Benedetta Berti, Foreign Affairs, 27 June 2017 But if workaholics truly want to keep working past the point of no return, Taris says, there’s not much anyone can do to stop them. Chris Woolston, Washington Post, 21 July 2024 With the deadline for getting the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot looming, Tuesday’s meeting was a point of no return for ushering through changes to the department’s system for getting rid of bad cops. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for point of no return 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'point of no return.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of point of no return was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near point of no return

Cite this Entry

“Point of no return.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point%20of%20no%20return. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

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