1 A2 idiomatic informal
To arrive somewhere, especially unexpectedly or without prior notice.
"He just turned up at the party without being invited."
“
You don't have to turn up with an army.
— Common informal English usage
inseparable
turn up
B1 informal mixed transitive/intransitive
To arrive, especially unexpectedly; or to increase the level of something like volume or heat.
In plain English
Appear somewhere, or make something louder/hotter/stronger.
What does "turn up" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To increase the level or intensity of something such as volume, heat, or speed.
"Can you turn up the music? I can barely hear it."
“
Turn up the radio, they're playing our song.
— Common song lyric expression; widely used in popular culture
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To be found or discovered, usually after being lost or searched for.
"My missing keys turned up in the back of the sofa."
inseparable
4 B2 neutral
To fold the bottom of a piece of clothing upward to shorten it.
"The tailor turned up the trousers because they were too long."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To rotate something so it faces upward; to move upward.
Actually means
Appear somewhere, or make something louder/hotter/stronger.
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs in British and American English. 'Turn up' (intransitive) for arriving unexpectedly is very informal. For volume/heat it is separable and widely used. 'A turn-up for the books' is a British idiom meaning a surprising event.
Words that pair with "turn up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
volume heat evidence unexpectedly late invitation
How to conjugate "turn up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
turn up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
turns up
he/she/it
Past simple
turned up
yesterday
Past participle
turned up
have + pp
-ing form
turning up
continuous
Hear "turn up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "turn up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "turn up"
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Keep exploring
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