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

But not every piece of signed memorabilia bought will turn out to be legitimate.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

And if Tuesday’s news from Wall Street is any guide, they may turn out to be a smart buy.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

The reaction from the woman, played by Susannah Perkins, who will turn out to be the play’s Antigone, is fiery: “Is it even about her?” she asks truculently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Things just didn’t turn out that way, setting up what has been described as an EV winter, a time of slow sales, making it difficult to earn a return on a new investment.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Comparing it to every other art school is never going to turn out well because Prism is the art school.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Related Words

• appear
• come
• emerge
• show up