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Glite Dictionary
🔎 To happen 👥 To gather 💡 To switch off 🏭 To produce 🚪 To expel ⏰ To get up 🩰 To rotate outward 👗 To dress up
to turn out

to turn out

1 3.4
To dress someone in special clothes for an event
  • phrasal verb
  • /tɜrn aʊt/
translation icon : vestir (con)
  • The tailor turned me out.

Examples

  • The designer turned out a stunning dress adorned with intricate beadwork.

  • Here, we turn out the best-fed, best-trained... ...soldiers, but it doesn't come easy.

    Private Benjamin (1980)

  • She always turns out elegantly for special occasions, choosing accessories that complement her outfit.

  • Before the gala, the stylist will turn out in a classic tuxedo and polished shoes.

Synonyms

to dress something up
vsto turn out
56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

focuses on equipping people or things with specific style rather than general decoration
to deck out
vsto turn out
  • Informal
15 4.1

To make a person or a room look special with clothes and decorations

is more neutral, focusing on specific styling rather than just showy display
to dress up
vsto turn out
12 2.9

Make something look better than it really is

describes real equipping with accessories and style rather than only a misleading appearance
to get up
vsto turn out
4 3.7

To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive

is similar but includes ordinary stylish equipping as well as striking looks
to trick out
vsto turn out
  • Informal
1 7.4

To make something like a car or outfit look very fancy by adding bright decorations

is broader, meaning to equip in a particular stylish manner not only to impress
to deck up
vsto turn out
  • Informal
8.2

To put on special clothes to look nice for an event

is similar but can mean any specific stylish equipping rather than only eye catching
to trick up
vsto turn out
  • Informal
7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

is less about extra embellishment and more about chosen style or equipment
to rig out
vsto turn out
  • Informal
6.9

Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive

covers general equipping in a particular style rather than only impressive looks
to tog out
vsto turn out
  • UK
8.6

To dress in nice clothes for a special event

is not limited to occasions and can mean general stylish equipping
to tog up
vsto turn out
  • UK
9.4

To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event

is broader, applying to equipping with style whether to impress or not
to fig up
vsto turn out
  • UK
9.9

To put on fancy clothes to look good

is more general, meaning any particular way of equipping with accessories or style
to fig out
vsto turn out
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress in special clothes to look attractive

is broader, covering any deliberate equipping with style not only to appeal

Antonyms

to strip down
  • NSFW
12 5.1

To take off most or all of your clothes

undress
  • NSFW
5 3.3

The state of wearing no or only some clothes

How Dressed

to adorn
45 4.9
to deck out
  • Informal
15 4.1
to turn out
1 3.4
to dress up
178 2.7
to dress
∞ 1.0
to wear
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

turn out infinitive
turned out past
turned out past participle
turning out present participle
turns out third person singular

Morphology

turn + out

The dressing sense is only partially derivable from the constituents: 'turn' (change) + 'out' (outward) can be linked to altering outward appearance, but the specific meaning 'dress/equip someone' depends on knowing the phrasal-verb usage rather than pure composition. Because 'turn out' has several unrelated senses and the connection to clothing is metaphorical and not fully predictable, a B1 learner who only knows the words may not reliably infer this meaning.

Etymology

Turn out may come from dressing someone so they are ready to be seen, like turning them out in fine clothes for an event. So it means 'to dress or equip' someone in a particular or stylish way.