Phrasal verb
Turn up
What does 'turn up' mean?
'Turn up' means to arrive or appear unexpectedly, to be found after being lost, or to increase equipment volume, heat, or power. For example, 'My old notebook turned up behind the sofa.' For equipment, use an object: 'Please turn the brightness up.' With pronouns, say 'turn it up', not 'turn up it'.
Key points
- 'Turn up' can describe unexpected arrivals or discoveries.
- Use 'turn up' without an object for arrivals and found items.
- Use 'turn something up' to increase volume, heat, or power.
- Place pronouns between 'turn' and 'up'.
Can you use "Turn up" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
Turn up means to arrive or appear unexpectedly, to be found after being misplaced, or to increase the volume, heat, or power produced by equipment.
Marcus turned up at the workshop half an hour late.
Why it works: Marcus arrived unexpectedly late for the scheduled session.
2 more examples
-
My missing office badge finally turned up inside an old notebook.
The lost badge was discovered unexpectedly.
-
The audio recording sounds too soft, so please turn it up.
The speaker requests an increase in sound volume, placing the pronoun in the middle.
Read the full guide
Deciding Between People Arriving and Setting Controls
When you hear or read the phrasal verb turn up, you must first notice whether an object follows the verb. When someone arrives at an event or an appointment, the verb stands alone without a direct object. When someone changes the volume on a speaker or increases heat on a thermostat, an object always follows the verb. Identifying whether a sentence discusses people or physical equipment prevents immediate confusion in daily conversations.
-
Seven colleagues turned up for our morning training session.
Why it works: Turned up means arrived, used here without an object.
-
Please turn up the thermostat because the office feels chilly.
Why it works: Turn up means increase the heating level, followed by an object.
Your turn
Which sentence uses turn up to describe someone arriving at a location?
Answer: Sofia turned up at our studio around ten o'clock.
Show the answer
Answer: Sofia turned up at our studio around ten o'clock.
The verb stands alone without an equipment object to describe Sofia arriving at the studio.
Describing Unexpected or Late Arrivals
Native speakers frequently select turn up instead of simply using arrive when the appearance is unexpected, delayed, or surprising. You can use this verb when a friend arrives without sending a message beforehand, or when an invited guest appears much later than planned. Notice that you add prepositions like at or for when you name a specific place or event, such as turning up at a diner or turning up for an interview.
-
An old classmate turned up at my store yesterday afternoon.
Why it works: The visit was surprising and unplanned.
-
Why did Nathan turn up for the meeting without his laptop?
Why it works: Nathan arrived for the scheduled event, but unprepared.
This also comes up in Turn down and Bump into.
Your turn
Select the most natural sentence describing an unannounced guest.
Answer: My uncle turned up at our house during lunch.
Show the answer
Answer: My uncle turned up at our house during lunch.
Turn up at describes arriving at a place unexpectedly or without an appointment.
Explaining Items That Appear Unexpectedly
Beyond people, physical objects can also turn up. English speakers use this pattern when something missing is discovered without an active search, or when it reappears in an unexpected spot. The item itself serves as the subject of the sentence, not the direct object. If you misplace your passport and spot it behind a bookshelf three days later, your passport turned up. This usage emphasizes the discovery rather than the effort of searching.
-
My missing apartment key turned up under the couch cushions.
Why it works: The key was found in a place where the speaker did not expect it.
-
Do not worry about that folder; important papers usually turn up.
Why it works: The papers will likely be found after some time.
Your turn
How should you describe your lost badge reappearing on a desk?
Answer: My security badge turned up on the reception desk.
Show the answer
Answer: My security badge turned up on the reception desk.
Turn up indicates that a missing item was found unexpectedly.
Increasing Volume, Heat, and Power
When turn up relates to mechanical devices, household appliances, or sound systems, it means to raise the level or output. You can use it with volume, heat, speed, or brightness. Because this phrasal verb is transitive in this context, it requires an object. You can place a full noun either after the complete phrase or between the verb and the particle, giving you two equally correct options in daily speech.
-
Could you turn up the air conditioning before our guests enter?
Why it works: The speaker asks to increase the cooling power.
-
I decided to turn the radio up so we could hear the news.
Why it works: The noun radio sits naturally between turn and up.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly increases an equipment setting?
Answer: Can you turn up the heating unit in this conference room?
Show the answer
Answer: Can you turn up the heating unit in this conference room?
Turn up the heating unit means to increase the temperature level of the room.
Placing Pronouns in Separable Verb Structures
Learners often make a word order error when replacing a specific noun with a pronoun such as it, them, or that. With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object cannot follow the particle. You must place the pronoun directly between turn and up. Saying turn up it sounds unnatural and grammatically incorrect in standard English. Keep the pronoun in the middle whether you are asking a polite question or giving an instruction.
-
That song is fantastic, so please turn it up.
Why it works: The pronoun it must sit between turn and up.
-
The radiators are barely warm; let us turn them up.
Why it works: The plural pronoun them goes between the two words.
Your turn
Which request follows correct pronoun placement?
Answer: The music is too quiet; please turn it up.
Show the answer
Answer: The music is too quiet; please turn it up.
Pronoun objects must sit between turn and up, making turn it up the only standard form.
Selecting the Correct Opposite Meaning
Understanding opposites depends on which meaning of turn up you intend. When adjusting equipment, the direct opposite of turn up is turn down, which means to lower volume, heat, or intensity. However, when talking about people arriving, you cannot simply use turn down to mean leaving. For departures or non-arrivals, use verbs like leave, depart, or fail to show up. Remembering this distinction prevents confusion between adjusting settings and tracking attendance.
-
The volume was deafening, so I had to turn it down.
Why it works: Turn down reverses an increase in sound.
-
Two invited speakers did not turn up, so our director spoke instead.
Why it works: The opposite of turning up at an event is failing to appear.
Your turn
What should you say to request lower speaker volume?
Answer: Please turn it down slightly.
Show the answer
Answer: Please turn it down slightly.
Turn down is the direct opposite of turn up when adjusting volume or equipment levels.
Distinguishing Turn Up from Similar Phrasal Verbs
It is easy to confuse turn up with related verbs like turn on and turn out. Turn on means activating a machine from an off state, while turn up increases a machine that is already running. Turn out describes how an event develops or ends, such as a gathering turning out well. Meanwhile, show up is an informal synonym for turn up when describing people arriving, but show up cannot be used to raise the volume on your television.
-
Turn on the lamp first, then turn up the dimmer switch.
Why it works: Turn on provides power, while turn up increases brightness.
-
Everything turned out fine even though our guide turned up late.
Why it works: Turned out describes the outcome; turned up describes the arrival.
Your turn
Which verb describes activating equipment that is currently powered off?
Answer: Turn on
Show the answer
Answer: Turn on
Turn on supplies power to a machine, whereas turn up only increases an active setting.
Hearing Connected Speech and Stress Patterns
In natural spoken English, the consonant sound at the end of turn links smoothly to the vowel sound in up, producing the connected sound tur-nup. When the verb means arriving or appearing, the particle up usually carries stronger sentence stress than turn. When used with an equipment object in the middle, such as turn it up, the word up receives primary emphasis, while it remains quick and unstressed. Listening for this rhythm helps you catch the phrase during rapid conversations.
-
Did anyone turn up?
Why it works: The particle up takes the primary stress at the end of the question.
-
You need to turn it up.
Why it works: Stress falls on turn and up, while the pronoun it remains brief and unstressed.
Your turn
In the spoken sentence 'Please turn it up', which word receives the strongest stress?
Answer: Up
Show the answer
Answer: Up
In the phrase turn it up, the particle up carries the primary stress, while the pronoun it remains unstressed.
Other meanings of "turn up"
This lesson practises one meaning. You may also hear these.
To be found or discovered after being lost or misplaced.
The missing receipt turned up in a drawer.
To increase the volume, heat, brightness, or power of equipment.
Could you turn the screen brightness up?
Common mistakes with "turn up"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
The missing ticket turned up it in my coat.Say: The missing ticket turned up in my coat.
For a found item, 'turn up' is intransitive and does not take an object.
-
Not this:
Please turn up it; the music is quiet.Say: Please turn it up; the music is quiet.
Pronoun objects must come between 'turn' and 'up'.
-
Not this:
Can you turn the fan on up?Say: Can you turn the fan up?
'Turn up' increases an equipment setting; 'turn on' means activate the device.
Questions about "Turn up"
What is the difference between turn up and show up?
Both verbs describe people arriving, but show up is slightly more casual and often carries a neutral or critical tone about attendance. Turn up often emphasizes surprise, unexpected timing, or discovery. Furthermore, turn up can describe increasing equipment volume or finding lost objects, whereas show up cannot be used for equipment.
Elena showed up on time for her morning shift.
Nobody expected David to turn up after the storm began.
Can I say 'turn up it' when asking someone to raise the volume?
No, you cannot place a pronoun after up when turn up is used as a separable phrasal verb. Pronouns such as it, them, and that must sit between turn and up. Saying turn up it is grammatically incorrect in standard English.
The podcast is quiet, so please turn it up.
If you cannot hear the audio track, turn it up right now.
How do I know whether to use turn up or turn on?
Use turn on to start a device that has no power or is currently switched off. Use turn up only after the device is already on and you want to increase its heat, sound, or brightness.
Please turn on the heater before you leave the kitchen.
Once the heater is running, turn it up to warm the room.
Can turn up be used in the passive voice when describing lost items?
No, turn up is intransitive when describing an item being found or appearing. You say that the item turned up, never that it was turned up. The item itself acts as the subject of the active verb.
My lost wallet finally turned up behind the counter.
We searched all morning before our missing keys turned up.
Before you go
Remember this
Use turn up without an object for arrivals and discoveries, and turn something up for higher equipment settings, keeping pronoun objects in the middle.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My missing office badge finally turned up inside an old notebook.
- The audio recording sounds too soft, so please turn it up.
Read the transcript
Marcus turned up early for breakfast.
Turned up describes arriving at a location earlier than expected.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My missing office badge finally turned up inside an old notebook.
- The audio recording sounds too soft, so please turn it up.
Read the transcript
Please turn it up so everyone can hear.
Turn it up separates the verb and particle with the pronoun it to request more volume.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My missing office badge finally turned up inside an old notebook.
- The audio recording sounds too soft, so please turn it up.
Read the transcript
My missing room key turned up under a pile of magazines. I searched everywhere this morning, but I never noticed a small pocket inside my bag.
Turned up describes a lost item being discovered in an unexpected spot.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- My missing office badge finally turned up inside an old notebook.
- The audio recording sounds too soft, so please turn it up.
Read the transcript
Elena walked inside our studio and asked our team to begin. The room felt cold, so someone turned up our heating unit by two degrees. A few minutes later, our speaker began his presentation, but his voice sounded quiet. I chose to turn the microphone up a bit, and our listeners heard every word clearly without any trouble.
The speaker uses turned up for heating and turn up for microphone volume.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Practice complete
You listened closely.
Your result is saved in this browser.
Keep your progress. Your practice is saved on this device only. Create a free account to keep it everywhere.
Create a free accountThat was today's free lesson. Tomorrow you get another one. Want more today? See membership.
Create a free SubLearn account to keep this progress across devices.
Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
Marcus turned up early for breakfast.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Describe a situation where an unexpected guest turned up at your home or workplace, and explain how you responded to the surprise.
Use: turn up
You could start with “I remember when an unexpected visitor turned up…”
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “turn up”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Write your own response
Choose a situation and write 30–50 words in your own wording. This is separate from typing the exact words in a recording.
Check your own writing
Read one possible response
Use these checks to revise your message. Grammar and meaning are not automatically graded. Each task keeps its own draft in this browser tab.
You finished the free part of this lesson
- Understand
- Listen
- Speak
- Write
- CheckPart of membership
Worth another look
With a free account, the lessons you finish come back for review to help you remember them.Create a free account
Stage 5 of 5 · Part of membership
Check
New clips without hints.
Listening tests are included with membership. Try the free dictation first, then decide whether to continue.
Listening 1 of 2 Part of membership
Listening 2 of 2 Part of membership
Follow MicroEnglish
New lessons, short videos and quick quizzes every day. Pick the app you already use.
Questions & comments
Ask about this lesson, share an example, or help another learner.
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
In this lesson
This word isn't in our dictionary. Check the spelling, or try another form of the word.
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
