turnout

1 of 2

noun

turn·​out ˈtərn-ˌau̇t 

1

: the number of people who participate in or attend an event

a heavy voter turnout

2

a

: a place where something (such as a road) turns out or branches off

b

: a space adjacent to a highway in which vehicles may park or pull into to enable others to pass

c

: a railroad siding

3

: an act of turning out

4

chiefly British

a

: strike sense 3a

b

: striker sense 1d

5

: a clearing out and cleaning

6

a

: a coach or carriage together with the horses, harness, and attendants

b

: equipment, rig

c

: manner of dress : getup

7

: net quantity of produce yielded

turn out

2 of 2

verb

turned out; turning out; turns out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to come or go out from home in or as if in answer to a summons

voters turned out in droves

b

: to get out of bed

2

a

: to prove to be in the result or end

the play turned out to be a flop

it turned out that we were both wrong

b

: to become in maturity

nobody thought he'd turn out like this

c

: end

stories that turn out happily

transitive verb

1

: to put out by or as if by turning a switch

turn out the lights

2

: to produce often rapidly or regularly by or as if by machine

a writer turning out stories

3

a

: to turn inside out

turning out his pockets

b

: to empty the contents of especially for cleaning or rearranging

also : clean

4

a

: expel, evict

b

: to put (an animal, such as a horse) to pasture

5

: to equip, dress, or finish in a careful or elaborate way

6

: to call (a guard, a company, etc.) out from rest or shelter and into formation

Synonyms

Verb

• arise
• get up
• rise
• roll out
• uprise

Examples of turnout in a Sentence

Noun

The opening game of the season brought only a small turnout.

a 50 percent voter turnout

Verb

we turn out early on workdays

it's our practice to turn out the room after guests stay over

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It was used to successful effect in 2020, well before Turning Point Action began playing a role in Arizona turnout. —Malcolm Hillgartner Krish Seenivasan Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025

March elections in Miramar typically have less than 10% voter turnout due to most residents having ballot fatigue or simply being unaware of an off-cycle local election. —Kerri-Ann Nesbeth, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2025

Verb

While in the Goodwill Outlet bins in Portland, Oregon one man found a $15 popcorn maker that turned out to be worth $1,200, and made for lots of delicious treats. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

Devon gave birth at that cabin in the series’ fifth episode, and met a mother who turned out to be an innie. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1546, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4a

Rhymes for turnout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

turnout

1 of 2 noun

turn·​out ˈtər-ˌnau̇t 

: the number of people who attend or who do something (as vote)

a good turnout at the meeting

expected a light voter turnout

turn out

2 of 2 verb

ˌtər-ˈnau̇t,

ˈtər-

1

: to put or empty out of a container

2

: to make by or as if by machine

the factory turns out automobiles

turns out a new story every month

3

: turn off sense 2

who turned out the light?

4

: to come or go out from home

thousands turned out to see them

5

: to prove to be

it turned out to be only the cat

of course, I turned out to be right