turn up

What it means

To arrive somewhere, often unexpectedly or late, or to be found after being lost. It can also mean to increase the volume or intensity of something like music or heat.

Examples

• He turned up at the party two hours late with no apology.
• My missing keys finally turned up in the laundry basket.
• Could you turn up the heating? It's freezing in here.
• Only five people turned up to the meeting, despite all the invitations.

Where it comes from

Mostly intransitive when meaning 'arrive' or 'appear', and separable when meaning 'increase' ('turn it up'). Common in both British and American English in informal speech.

Related phrasal verbs