Turn up Meaning and Examples: How to Use the Phrasal Verb “Turn up”

What Does “Turn up” Mean?

“Turn up” means to appear unexpectedly or to increase the volume, level, or intensity of something.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “turn up” has several important uses in English. It can mean to arrive or appear, often when unexpected. It can also mean to increase something, like sound or heat. Understanding the “turn up meaning” helps learners use it naturally in conversations. This verb appears frequently in everyday English, making it useful for learners at all levels. Knowing how to use “turn up” correctly will improve your speaking and writing skills.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: turn up
• Type: Intransitive and transitive
• Level: A2 – B2
• Short meaning: To appear or arrive; to increase volume or amount

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Turn up” is mostly inseparable, meaning the verb and particle stay together.

• Intransitive (no object): Subject + turn up
• Transitive (with object): Subject + turn up + object

Example patterns:

• She turned up late.
• Can you turn up the music?

How to Use Turn up?

Use “turn up” when someone or something appears, especially unexpectedly. It is also used to talk about increasing levels, such as volume or heat. It fits well in both formal and informal settings.

Examples of use include:

• When a guest arrives without notice.
• When adjusting a device’s volume or brightness.

Examples

Here are some examples of “turn up” in sentences:

• My keys finally turned up under the sofa.
• She turned up at the party an hour late.
• Please turn up the heater; it’s cold in here.
• If you turn up the volume, you can hear the music better.
• We didn’t expect him to turn up at the meeting.

Turn up in a sentence helps learners see the verb in real contexts.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse “turn up” with other similar verbs or use it incorrectly with objects.

• Incorrect: She turned the music up loud.
• Correct: She turned up the music loud.
• Incorrect: He turned up to the event yesterday.
• Correct: He turned up at the event yesterday.

Remember, “turn up” does not usually take a direct object without a preposition.

Differences / Synonyms

“Turn up” can be compared to similar phrasal verbs like “show up” and “come up.”

• Turn up means to appear or increase something.
• Show up means to arrive or appear, often emphasizing presence.
• Come up often means to appear unexpectedly in conversation or situations.

Example: She turned up late, but she didn’t show up empty-handed.

Common Collocations

Some common collocations with “turn up” include:

• Turn up the volume – increase sound
• Turn up the heat – increase temperature
• Turn up late – arrive after expected time
• Turn up missing – appear after being lost
• Turn up unexpectedly – appear without warning

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of turn up:

• Turn Sth On Sb
• Turn Sth Over To Sth
• Turn Over To Sth
• Turn Sth Over
• Turn Sth Out

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “turn up”:

Anna: Did John turn up for the meeting?

Mike: Yes, he turned up about ten minutes late.

Anna: Good. Can you turn up the air conditioning? It’s hot in here.

Mike: Sure, I’ll turn it up right now.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with “turn up”:

• My phone ________ after I searched everywhere.
• Can you ________ the music? I can’t hear it.
• She didn’t ________ to the party last night.
• The heat was low, so I ________ the temperature.

FAQ

• What does “turn up” mean? It means to appear or to increase something like volume.
• Is “turn up” separable? No, it is usually inseparable in most uses.
• Can “turn up” be used with objects? Yes, when increasing something, like “turn up the music.”
• What is the difference between “turn up” and “show up”? “Turn up” can mean appear or increase, while “show up” only means to appear or arrive.
• Can “turn up” mean to find something lost? Yes, it can mean something lost has appeared or been found.