1
: turned up
a turnup nose
2
: made or fitted to be turned up
a turnup collar
turned up; turning up; turns up
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
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
Synonyms
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
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Their relationship got turned up several notches with the quarantines brought along by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
These receptors form the endocannabinoid system, which acts as conductor for an orchestra of neurotransmitters, turning up or down the volume on sleep, temperature, pain, hunger, learning, and memory.
—Julia Michie Bruckner, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Milwaukee police said their search turned up empty Friday after a bomb threat to three Milwaukee Public Schools campuses.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
An investigation revealed the SUV had been reported stolen, police said, adding that a search of the vehicle also turned up evidence consistent with catalytic converter thefts.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
The cullings are often done by turning up the heat in barns that house thousands of birds, a method that causes heat stroke and that many veterinarians and animal welfare organizations say results in unnecessary suffering.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Vatican said about 60,000 people had turned up.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Ahn will certainly turn up the heat in the kitchen with his impressive resumé.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
The first sign of the family tragedy turned up around 4:30 a.m. Monday.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Their relationship got turned up several notches with the quarantines brought along by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
These receptors form the endocannabinoid system, which acts as conductor for an orchestra of neurotransmitters, turning up or down the volume on sleep, temperature, pain, hunger, learning, and memory.
—Julia Michie Bruckner, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Milwaukee police said their search turned up empty Friday after a bomb threat to three Milwaukee Public Schools campuses.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
An investigation revealed the SUV had been reported stolen, police said, adding that a search of the vehicle also turned up evidence consistent with catalytic converter thefts.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
The cullings are often done by turning up the heat in barns that house thousands of birds, a method that causes heat stroke and that many veterinarians and animal welfare organizations say results in unnecessary suffering.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Vatican said about 60,000 people had turned up.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Ahn will certainly turn up the heat in the kitchen with his impressive resumé.
—Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turnup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1688, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1580, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4
Dictionary Entries Near turnup
Cite this Entry
“Turnup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnup. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
turn up
verb1
: 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
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