turn up

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	turn up
he/she/it	turns up
present participle	turning up
past tense	turned up
past participle	turned up

1
transitive to increase the amount of sound, heat, or light produced by a piece of equipment by pressing a button or moving a switch
Can you turn the volume up a little?
Don’t turn the TV up – I’m trying to read.
Add the mussels, turn up the heat, and leave them to steam until all are fully open.
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of equipment work
activate
actuate
coax
2
intransitive to come somewhere, especially unexpectedly or without making a firm arrangement
There is no need to make a reservation – just turn up on the night.
turn up for:
She failed to turn up for work on Monday.
turn up at:
If you want to play in the concert, you have to turn up at all the rehearsals.
Synonyms and related words
To arrive in a place, or to enter a place
arrive
enter
reach
3
intransitive to be found, especially by accident, after being lost or not known about
The documents finally turned up in an office down the hall.
Synonyms and related words
To appear slightly, suddenly or temporarily
emerge
pop up
break through
1. 3a
  transitive to find something lost, hidden, or unexpected by looking for it
  The police haven’t turned up anything new, have they?
  Synonyms and related words
  To find something or someone
  come across
  come on
  run across
4
intransitive to happen unexpectedly or by chance
You’ll get another job: something is bound to turn up soon.
Synonyms and related words
To happen quickly or unexpectedly
turn up
spring
sneak up
5
transitive to open a fold along the edge of a piece of clothing
He turned up his jacket collar against the cold.
Synonyms and related words
To fold or furl something
close
fold up
fold
Synonyms and related words
To sew, or to sew something
sew
mend
stitch
6
transitive to make a piece of clothing or cloth shorter by making a fold along the bottom edge and fastening it with stitches
Synonyms and related words
To change the length of something
lengthen
stretch
shorten
Synonyms and related words
To sew, or to sew something
sew
mend
stitch