not turned up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not turned up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has not arrived or appeared as expected. Example: "The package was supposed to arrive yesterday, but it has not turned up yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The pants have not turned up.

The New York Times

(The first two movements have still not turned up).

The New York Times - Arts

But the folk Bells have not turned up tonight.

The Guardian - Music

She carried several phone numbers, which have not turned up anything yet.

The New York Times

We phoned her office, who told us she had not turned up for work.

Independent

Its drug-testing program had not turned up positive tests on many of the players.

The New York Times - Sports

A preliminary search had not turned up any criminal history for that individual, the official added.

The New York Times

He has not turned up, although his shoes and jacket were found.

The New York Times - Sports

The cornucopia of medical advance it promised has not turned up.

The Economist

The first gig was a 16,000-seat arena, and the singer's not turned up.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, the state department says he has not turned up there.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not turned up", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what was expected. For instance, specify the person, item, or event that didn't appear. This prevents ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

While "not turned up" is widely understood, it can sound slightly informal in certain professional or academic settings. In such cases, consider using more formal alternatives like "failed to appear" or "did not arrive" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not turned up" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the absence or non-appearance of someone or something that was expected. This usage is supported by numerous examples found by Ludwig, where it describes people missing appointments or items failing to arrive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "not turned up" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone or something expected has not arrived or appeared. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous real-world examples, shows that it's most frequently used in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in tone, slightly more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain professional or academic settings. Overall, "not turned up" is a versatile and easily understood phrase in everyday English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not shown up

More informal, implying an expected appearance.

failed to appear

More formal and emphasizes a failure to be present.

did not arrive

Focuses specifically on the lack of arrival at a destination.

never arrived

Emphasizes the absence of arrival at any point.

is missing

Indicates a current state of being absent or lost.

was absent

Focuses on the state of being away from a specific place or event.

didn't materialize

Implies something expected to happen did not occur.

is nowhere to be found

Highlights the inability to locate someone or something.

has gone missing

Suggests a disappearance, often with an element of concern.

remains unseen

Focuses on the continuous lack of visibility or appearance.

FAQs

What does "not turned up" mean?

The phrase "not turned up" means someone or something has not arrived or appeared as expected. It's often used to describe a situation where an expected person, object, or event did not occur.

What can I say instead of "not turned up"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to appear", "did not arrive", or "has not shown up" depending on the context.

Is "not turned up" formal or informal?

"Not turned up" is generally considered to be neutral in tone, leaning slightly towards informal. In formal settings, it might be better to use phrases like "failed to appear" or "did not arrive".

How to use "not turned up" in a sentence?

You can use "not turned up" in sentences like: "The package was supposed to arrive yesterday, but it has "not turned up" yet." or "He was expected at the meeting, but he has "not turned up"."