Definition

1. Verb (Phrasal Verb):
   • To result or end in a particular way: Used to describe the final outcome or conclusion of a situation or event.
   • To prove to be; to be discovered or found to be the case: Used when something is revealed or becomes known, often surprisingly.
   • To produce or manufacture something, typically in a factory: To create goods on a regular or large scale.
   • To attend or gather for an event: To come to a public meeting, demonstration, or social occasion.
   • To expel or force someone to leave a place: To eject someone from a location or group.
   • To equip or outfit someone, often in a specified way: To dress or provide someone with clothing and accessories.
   • To extinguish (a light): To switch off an electric light.
   • To point or be directed outward: To rotate or face away from a center point.

Examples of Usage

• To result or end:
  • I wonder how the meeting will turn out.
  • Despite the problems, everything turned out well in the end.
• To prove to be; to be discovered:
  • He turned out to be a very kind person.
  • It turns out that I was right about the address.
• To produce or manufacture:
  • The factory turns out 500 cars a day.
  • They turn out high-quality furniture.
• To attend or gather:
  • Thousands of people turned out for the parade.
  • A good crowd turned out to hear the speech.
• To expel or force to leave:
  • The landlord turned the tenants out for not paying rent.
  • He was turned out of the club for bad behavior.
• To equip or outfit:
  • She was turned out in an elegant silk dress.
  • The soldiers were turned out in full uniform for inspection.
• To extinguish a light:
  • Please turn out the lights when you leave.
  • He turned out the lamp and went to sleep.
• To point outward:
  • Her feet turn out slightly when she walks.

Advanced Usage

• "turn out to be": This is a very common structure used to introduce a discovered fact or final state.

  • The job turned out to be much harder than I expected.
  • The stranger turned out to be an old friend.

• "as it turns out" / "as things turned out": Phrases used to introduce an explanatory or surprising piece of information.

  • We planned a picnic, but as it turned out, it rained all day.
  • As things turned out, his advice was invaluable.

Variants and Related Words

• Turnout (noun):

  • The number of people attending an event: The concert had a huge turnout.
  • A widening in a road for vehicles to pass or park: Use the turnout to let faster cars pass.
  • The way someone is dressed: She admired his elegant turnout.

• Turned-out (adjective):

  • Well-dressed or equipped: The turned-out guards stood at attention.

Synonyms

• Result (in):
• Prove (to be):
• Produce / Manufacture:
• Attend:
• Eject / Expel:
• Extinguish / Switch off:

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Turn out for (someone/something): To attend an event in support of someone or something.

  • The whole town turned out for the veteran's funeral.

• Turn out (to be) a certain way: To develop or end with a specific quality.

  • The cake turned out perfectly.

Related Idioms

• Turn out the lights on (something): To bring something to an end; to terminate.

  • The new policy effectively turned out the lights on the old program.

• Turn out all right/well in the end: A common expression meaning a situation concluded successfully despite difficulties.

  • Don't worry, I'm sure it will turn out all right in the end.

Verb

1. get up and out of bed
   • I get up at 7 A.M. every day
   • They rose early
   • He uprose at night
2. cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch
   • Turn off the stereo, please
   • cut the engine
   • turn out the lights
3. turn outward
   • These birds can splay out their toes
   • ballet dancers can rotate their legs out by 90 degrees
4. outfit or equip, as with accessories
   • The actors were turned out lavishly
5. come and gather for a public event
   • Hundreds of thousands turned out for the anti-war rally in New York
6. put out or expel from a place
   • The unruly student was excluded from the game
7. bring forth, "The apple tree bore delicious apples this year"
   • The unidentified plant bore gorgeous flowers
8. come, usually in answer to an invitation or summons
   • How many people turned out that evening?
9. result or end
   • How will the game turn out?
10. produce quickly or regularly, usually with machinery
    • This factory turns out saws
11. prove to be in the result or end
    • It turns out that he was right
12. be shown or be found to be
    • She proved to be right
    • The medicine turned out to save her life
    • She turned up HIV positive