turnup

1 of 3

adjective

turn·​up ˈtər-ˈnəp 

1

: turned up

a turnup nose

2

: made or fitted to be turned up

a turnup collar

turnup

2 of 3

noun

turn·​up ˈtər-ˌnəp 

: something that is turned up

turn up

3 of 3

verb

turned up; turning up; turns up

transitive verb

1

: find, discover

2

: to raise or increase by or as if by turning a control

turn up the volume on the radio

3

British

a

: to look up (a word, a fact, etc.) in a book

b

: to refer to or consult (a book)

4

: to turn (a card) face upward

intransitive verb

1

: to appear or come to light unexpectedly or after being lost

new evidence has turned up

2

a(1)

: to turn out to be

he turned up missing at roll call

(2)

: appear sense 4

her name is always turning up in the newspapers

b

: to arrive or show up at an appointed or expected time or place

turned up half an hour late

3

: to happen or occur unexpectedly

something always turned up to prevent their meeting

4

of a ship : tack sense 1b

Phrases

turn up one's nose

: to show scorn or disdain

Synonyms

Verb

• appear
• come out
• materialize
• show
• show up
• unfold

Examples of turnup in a Sentence

Verb

my missing car keys turned up just in time

when do you think our guests will turn up?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her new film turns up the freezing unit to 11 in a long riff on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, moving between the white peaks of the French Haute Savoie, an ice rink and a film set where a version of The Snow Queen is being filmed in what appears to be real snow. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025

How active has your heater been lately? Over weeks of chilly temperatures and heavy rains, California residents have been turning up their thermostats to stay warm. —Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 16 Feb. 2025

Chris Rock is turning up for his latest milestone birthday! —Raven Brunner, People.com, 16 Feb. 2025

Your pantry clean out might turn up a few surprises. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1580, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Kids Definition

turn up

verb

1

: to be found or happen usually unexpectedly

2

: to raise by or as if by using a control

turn up the heat

3

: arrive sense 1

turned up late