turnout
C1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The number of people attending or participating in an event, especially in voting.
Can also refer to: 1) the act of turning out; 2) the equipment or output of a workplace; 3) a wide space in a road for vehicles to pass; 4) an outfit or set of clothing; 5) a carriage with its horses.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly used as a countable noun referring to voter participation. Its less common meanings (e.g., road widening, outfit) are more specific and often context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'turnout' primarily for voter/audience numbers. 'Turnout' for a road widening is common in UK road signage (e.g., 'lay-by' context); in US, 'pull-off' or 'turnout area' is used. The 'outfit' meaning is archaic in both but slightly more preserved in historical/horse-riding contexts in the UK.
Connotations
In political contexts, identical connotations. The road meaning is purely functional.
Frequency
The voting/attendance sense is high frequency in both. Other senses are low frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] turnoutturnout for [event]turnout of [number]turnout at [place]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A poor turnout at the polls”
- “They expected a better turnout.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in 'factory turnout' for output, but archaic.
Academic
Frequent in political science, sociology for voter/participant analysis.
Everyday
Common in news and discussions about elections, concerts, protests.
Technical
In rail/transport: a set of points (UK)/switches (US); in roads: a widening for parking/passing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please turn out the lights before you leave.
- The event turned out to be a huge success.
American English
- Make sure to turn out the lights when you go.
- It turned out he was right all along.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The turnout for the school play was very big.
- Voter turnout was higher than in the last election.
- Despite the rain, the turnout at the protest exceeded all expectations.
- The abysmal turnout in the local elections reflects a deep-seated disillusionment with the political process.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TURN OUT to vote -> the TURNOUT is how many turned out.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEMOCRACY IS A MARKET / MEASURABLE ENTITY (e.g., 'The product's success depends on customer turnout').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'выход' (exit) or 'поворот' (turn). The core meaning is 'явка' or 'посещаемость'. For the road meaning, it's 'карман' or 'уширение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'turnout' as a verb (correct verb is 'turn out'). Confusing 'turnout' with 'output' in non-voting contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'turnout' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning attendance, it is one word ('turnout'). The phrasal verb is two words ('turn out').
Yes, increasingly so (e.g., 'virtual event turnout'), though it traditionally implies physical presence.
'Turnout' often implies an active choice to participate (e.g., voting), while 'attendance' can be more passive (e.g., attending a class). They are frequently interchangeable.
No. The related verb is the phrasal verb 'to turn out'. 'Turnout' is solely a noun.
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