I think you might mean "turning point".
"Turning point" is a common English phrase. It refers to a moment or an event that marks a significant change in a situation, the course of events, or someone's life. For example, "Getting that job offer was a turning point in her career" means that this particular event led to a major shift or new direction in how her career progressed.
Here are some synonyms for "turning point" along with explanations:
- Crucial moment: This phrase emphasizes that the moment is extremely important and has a decisive impact. Just like a turning point, it's a time when things can change significantly. For instance, "The discovery of the new medicine was a crucial moment in the fight against the disease" implies that this discovery had a profound effect on how the battle with the disease would unfold.
- Pivotal event: "Pivot" means to turn or rotate around a central point, and a "pivotal event" is one that acts as a central or key factor in changing the direction of something. For example, "The signing of the peace treaty was a pivotal event in the history of the two countries" as it led to a new course in their relationship.
- Climacteric: This is a more formal or literary term. It refers to a critical or decisive stage or moment. For example, "The battle was the climacteric of the entire war, determining its final outcome" where the battle was that significant moment that shaped the end result of the whole conflict.
- Milestone: While it often refers to a significant achievement or marker in a process or journey, it can also function like a turning point in the sense that it represents an important step that changes the nature of what's going on. For example, "Graduating from college was a milestone in his life, opening up new opportunities and changing his path completely".
- Inflection point: In fields like economics and business, this term is commonly used to describe a point where a curve changes direction, and by extension, it can mean a moment when a trend or situation starts to change in a notable way. For example, "The release of the new technology was an inflection point for the company's growth, as sales started to skyrocket after that".
These synonyms can be used interchangeably with "turning point" in many contexts to convey the idea of a significant moment that causes a change in the flow or direction of something.