turn out

British  

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

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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

turn out Idioms  

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

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

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

4. 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 .

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

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

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turn out

Test your plan against higher-cost scenarios to make sure you’ll still have enough dependable income and savings if healthcare or housing costs turn out to be significantly higher than expected.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Our leaders and elders have long urged us to practice resilience and think of mañana when things don’t turn out how we want them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Scientists have long been concerned about so-called false positives, which occur when observations appear to indicate life but later turn out to have another explanation.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 30, 2026

It could turn out to be a thriller and it might take penalties to decide it.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

The Whole Brainers will turn out to be right about the complex interconnections of the brain but wrong about the brain acting as a whole.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Related Words

• appear
• come
• emerge
• show up