English Reference
noun

turnout

n.
US /ˈtɝˌnaʊt/ UK /tˈɜːnaʊt/ turnout UK spelling turnouts

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the number of people who attend an event, such as a meeting, a party, or a protest.

    the number of people who attend or participate in a specific event or gathering.

    Simple

    The organizers were surprised by the high turnout at the charity concert.

    In context

    Despite the heavy rain, the turnout for the local festival exceeded all expectations, with thousands of residents filling the town square.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Politics

    the percentage of people who actually go to vote in an election.

    the proportion or number of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

    Simple

    Low voter turnout can sometimes change the result of an election.

    In context

    Political analysts suggested that the record-breaking turnout among young voters was the primary factor in the unexpected landslide victory.

    participationvoter numbers
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a small area next to a road where a car can pull over to let others pass or to rest.

    a short lane or area beside a main road where vehicles can pull off the highway.

    Simple

    We stopped at a turnout on the mountain road to look at the view.

    In context

    The driver used a narrow turnout to allow the faster traffic behind him to pass safely on the winding coastal highway.

    lay bypull off
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical

    the way a dancer turns their legs and feet outward from the hips.

    the rotation of the leg at the hips which causes the feet and knees to turn outward.

    Simple

    The teacher reminded the students to maintain their turnout during the exercise.

    In context

    Achieving a perfect ninety-degree turnout requires years of disciplined training to increase the flexibility of the hip joints.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency ArchaicBritish English

    an old word for a strike, when workers stop working to ask for more money.

    a collective withdrawal of labour by employees to protest working conditions or pay.

    Simple

    The factory was closed for a week during the great turnout of 1890.

    In context

    Historical records from the textile mill describe a massive turnout of weavers who demanded a reduction in their daily working hours.

Farage first became an MP at the general election in 2024, winning with a majority of 8,405 and 46% of the vote, on a turnout of 58%.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

Voter turnout in Thursday’s election was 44 percent, lower than the 59 percent turnout recorded at the 2024 general election, but not unusual for a by-election.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

Deverbal from turn out.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated