# turn out to be sth

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turn-out-to-be-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to be discovered to be something, especially when you did not expect it.

For teachers: to prove to be the case; to be revealed as having a particular quality or identity in the end.

## Examples

- The movie turned out to be very boring.
- The stranger I met at the airport turned out to be my new boss.
- Although the initial data suggested a significant decline in sales, the final quarterly report turned out to be surprisingly positive.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He turned out being a spy." but "He turned out to be a spy." — this phrasal verb requires the infinitive 'to be' rather than the gerund '-ing' form.

## Usage notes

- often followed by an adjective or a noun phrase; can also be used with 'that' clauses.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'become' (which implies a change over time); 'turn out to be' implies a discovery of a truth that was already there but unknown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.