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

Shortly after Powell spoke at Jackson Hole in 2024, inflation slipped to 2.3%, but that would turn out to be as low as it would go.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

If predictions turn out to be true, in a few years agents will proliferate to the point where they outnumber people on enterprise networks.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The title is out of Manchester City's hands now after their 3-3 draw at Everton, but their late equaliser on Monday could still turn out to be huge.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

She settled in at a workspace to turn out a memo to staff, acknowledging the rapid work of getting its images from inside the ballroom on the air.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

“You think I’m going to turn out like him, don’t you?”

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• appear
• come
• emerge
• show up