Turn out means to prove to be something, or to end in a particular way. In the first meaning, it describes something you learn later: It turned out that the flight was cancelled. In the second, it gives a verdict on a result: The photos turned out well.
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it turns out (that) + clause; turn out + to be + noun/adjective; turn out + well/badly/fine
- The hotel turned out to be much closer to the beach than the photos suggested.
- It turned out that my colleague had sent the client the wrong file.
- I was nervous about my first presentation, but it turned out really well.
What changed
First versionWe turned out that the museum was closed on Mondays.
RevisionIt turned out that the museum was closed on Mondays.
Learners sometimes start the sentence with the people who learned the fact, as if turn out meant find out: We turned out. But turn out describes the fact itself, not the person who learned it, so the sentence needs it at the start. If it matters who learned it, use find out: We found out that...
In the second meaning, turn out usually needs a verdict: The trip turned out well, or badly. Work out means to end successfully even with nothing added: In the end, everything worked out. The plan turned out, with no verdict, sounds unfinished.
Your turn
I followed my grandmother's recipe carefully, and the cake ___ perfectly.
Show the answer
turned out — This is about a result: the cake came out perfectly, so turned out is needed. Turned up means appeared or was found, and it doesn't describe how cooking went.
Think of a trip, purchase or exam that was different from what you expected. Write what you expected and what it was like in the end.
I expected the night train to Kazan to be uncomfortable, but it turned out to be clean and quiet.
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