turn up

USAGE SUMMARY

"turn up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone or something appearing (i.e. unexpectedly) or to increase the volume of something. Example: I thought I had lost my keys, but they suddenly turned up in my pocket.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Something will turn up.

The New York Times

Ministers often turn up.

The Economist

You just turn up".

Independent

Related props turn up, too.

The New York Times - Arts

(Somehow, it didn't turn up).

The New York Times

More dead people turn up.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Scholarly discoveries turned up.

The New York Times - Arts

What was turned up?

The New York Times

He turns up unexpectedly.

The New Yorker

Nothing's turning up.

The New Yorker

Neighbours turned up missing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turn up" to indicate an unexpected appearance, adding an element of surprise to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "turn up" interchangeably for all situations of 'appearing'. Consider whether "arrive", "attend", or "emerge" might be more appropriate based on the nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "turn up" primarily functions as an intransitive verb indicating appearance or arrival, as seen in Ludwig examples like "Ministers often turn up." It also serves as a transitive verb when directing an increase in something like the volume or heat.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "turn up" is a versatile phrasal verb with multiple meanings, primarily indicating appearance or an increase in something, confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral, context is key to ensure accurate and effective communication. The related phrases offer alternatives to express similar ideas, and understanding common errors helps refine writing precision. Ludwig examples highlight the phrase's diverse applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

show up

Replaces "turn up" with a synonym that emphasizes the act of arriving or appearing.

appear

A more formal substitute for "turn up", focusing on the act of becoming visible or known.

surface

Implies something that was hidden is now becoming visible or known, similar to "turn up".

emerge

Suggests a gradual appearance or rise from obscurity, sharing the sense of becoming visible.

be discovered

Focuses on the finding or revelation of something, similar to one meaning of "turn up".

be found

Emphasizes the act of locating something that was lost or missing.

increase the volume

Specifically relates to the "turn up" meaning of increasing sound.

raise the volume

A synonym to increase the volume.

materialize

Similar to 'appear' but often suggests something unexpected or almost magical.

attend

If “turn up” is meant to imply presence at an event.

FAQs

How can I use "turn up" in a sentence?

You can use "turn up" to mean "appear unexpectedly", as in, "My keys always "turn up" in the last place I look", or to mean "increase the volume", as in "Turn up the music!"

What can I say instead of "turn up" when referring to an event?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "attend", "arrive", or "show up".

Is it correct to say "turn up" when referring to finding something?

Yes, "turn up" can be used to mean "be found" or "be discovered", especially when something is found unexpectedly. For instance, "The missing documents "turned up" in the archive."

What's the difference between "turn up" and "turn down"?

"Turn up" generally means to increase (e.g., volume, heat) or to appear, while "turn down" means to decrease (e.g., volume, heat) or to reject something (e.g., a job offer).