turn out

verb

1. (tr) to cause (something, esp a light) to cease operating by or as if by turning a knob, etc

2. (tr) to produce by an effort or process

   she turned out 50 units per hour

3. (tr) to dismiss, discharge, or expel

   the family had been turned out of their home

4. (tr) to empty the contents of, esp in order to clean, tidy, or rearrange

   to turn out one's pockets

5. (copula)

   1. to prove to be

      her work turned out to be badly done

   2. to end up; result

      it all turned out well

6. (tr) to fit as with clothes

   that woman turns her children out well

7. (intr) to assemble or gather

   a crowd turned out for the fair

8. (of a soldier) to parade or to call (a soldier) to parade

9. informal,  (intr) to get out of bed

10. informal,  to make an appearance, esp in a sporting competition

    he was asked to turn out for Liverpool

noun

1. the body of people appearing together at a gathering

2. the quantity or amount produced

3. an array of clothing or equipment

4. the manner in which a person or thing is arrayed or equipped

Idioms and Phrases

Shut off, as in He turned out the light . [Late 1800s]

Arrive or assemble for an event, as in A large number of voters turned out for the rally . [Mid-1700s]

Produce, as in They turn out three thousand cars a month . [Mid-1700s]

Be found to be in the end; also, end up, result, as in The rookie turned out to be a fine fielder , or The cake didn't turn out very well . [First half of 1700s] Also see turn out all right .

Equip, outfit, as in The bride was turned out beautifully . [First half of 1800s]

Get out of bed, as in Come on, children; time to turn out . [ Colloquial ; early 1800s]

Evict, expel, as in The landlord turned out his tenant . [Early 1500s]

Example Sentences

In comedian Louis C.K.’s debut novel, “Ingram,” laughs are scarce for the title character, a young boy turned out from his parents’ failed farm with nothing but the clothes he’s wearing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Michaels is perhaps best known for the uncanny ability to turn out a 90-minute live weekly show in just over five days, with final changes often made minutes before or even during the broadcast.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And some money managers will write entertaining pieces featuring predictions for 2026 along with confessions about how their 2025 predictions turned out.

Read more on MarketWatch

Only five AI specialists were needed to prompt, turn out and refine more than 70,000 video clips to make Silverside’s holiday ad for Coke, according to another behind-the-scenes film.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It turns out that Althouse, who lives in the Bay Area, was on what she calls “a tattoo journey,” in what she describes as a deliberate act of self-care.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appear 
• come 
• emerge 
• show up