# turnout

/ˈtɝˌnaʊt/ (US) · /tˈɜːnaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turnout
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. attendance at an event

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The organizers were surprised by the high turnout at the charity concert.
- Despite the heavy rain, the turnout for the local festival exceeded all expectations, with thousands of residents filling the town square.

### 2. voter participation

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Low voter turnout can sometimes change the result of an election.
- Political analysts suggested that the record-breaking turnout among young voters was the primary factor in the unexpected landslide victory.

### 3. roadside pull-off

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

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

- We stopped at a turnout on the mountain road to look at the view.
- The driver used a narrow turnout to allow the faster traffic behind him to pass safely on the winding coastal highway.

### 4. ballet position

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The teacher reminded the students to maintain their turnout during the exercise.
- Achieving a perfect ninety-degree turnout requires years of disciplined training to increase the flexibility of the hip joints.

### 5. a strike

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

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

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

- The factory was closed for a week during the great turnout of 1890.
- Historical records from the textile mill describe a massive turnout of weavers who demanded a reduction in their daily working hours.

## Examples

- The high voter turnout surprised the local politicians.
- Despite the heavy rain, the turnout for the outdoor concert was much higher than the organisers expected.
- Political analysts suggest that a low turnout among younger demographics could significantly alter the projected outcome of the upcoming referendum.

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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.