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Turn out meaning

Turn out means to happen or end in a particular way. It can also mean to be discovered to be true.

Check yourself: 3 questionsAll 11 phrasal verbs with turn

turn out

turn out · turned · turning

B2No object+3 more meanings

The party turned out really well.

Turn out meanings and examples

4 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1happen or end in a particular way
  2. 2be discovered to be true
  3. 3go to an event, especially to watch or to vote
  4. 4switch off a light
  1. 1

    Happen or end in a particular way

    turn out

    B2No object

    • The party turned out really well.
    • I hope it turns out fine.
    • Things didn’t turn out as we planned.
  2. 2

    Be discovered to be true

    turn out

    B2No object

    • It turned out that he was my cousin.
    • The shop turned out to be closed.
    • She turned out to be a great singer.
  3. 3

    Go to an event, especially to watch or to vote

    turn out

    B2No object

    • Thousands of people turned out to vote.
    • Fans turned out in the rain to see the team.
    • A big crowd turned out for the parade.
  4. 4

    Switch off a light

    turn something out

    B2Separable

    • Please turn out the lights when you leave.
    • He turned the lamp out and went to sleep.
    • She turned out the light and closed the door.
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Is turn out separable?

Turn out has no object for most meanings: It turned out well. When it means switch off a light, it is separable: turn out the light, turn the light out, turn it out.

The pattern It turned out that + a clause is very common: It turned out that she knew him. Turn out to be + noun or adjective is also common: The test turned out to be easy.

Verb tenses for turn out

PresentI turn out · she turns out
Pastturned out
Present perfecthave turned out
-ing formturning out

Common mistakes with turn out

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: The party turned out being great.

    Right: The party turned out to be great.

    After turn out, use to be, not -ing.

  • Wrong: It turned out that was a mistake.

    Right: It turned out that it was a mistake.

    After that, give a full clause with a subject.

  • Wrong: Turn out it.

    Right: Turn it out.

    A pronoun goes between turn and out when you switch off a light.

Synonyms and opposites of turn out

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

Opposite

Turn out quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1We were worried about the weather, but it ___ nice.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3“A huge crowd turned out.” What happened?

More phrasal verbs with turn

All phrasal verbs with turn, by level, with an exercise

11 phrasal verbs start with turn. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.

Test yourself on turnTake the full test

Turn out FAQ

Questions people ask about turn out.

What does turn out mean?

It means end in a certain way, or be discovered to be true. It can also mean go to an event or switch off a light.

What does “it turned out that” mean?

It introduces a fact you learn later, often a surprise. It turned out that the shop was closed.

What is the difference between turn out and end up?

Turn out describes how something finishes. End up describes where you finally are: We ended up in a small café.

Use turn out in real conversations

In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.

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