Cool MateComes vs Turns up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Comes
Top 1,000 (very common)
Turns up
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Comes | Turns up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌmz//🇺🇸 //kʌmz// | 🇬🇧 //tɜːn ʌp//🇺🇸 //tɜrn ʌp// |
| Meaning | Arrives or is near. | To appear unexpectedly or arrive. |
| Example | She always comes to the meeting on time. | She always turns up at the most unexpected times. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | comes home, comes together, comes first, comes up, comes to mind | turn up late, turn up missing, turn up the volume, turn up the heat, turn up the music |
| Antonyms | goes, leaves | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'come' in verb forms., Using 'comes' with plural subjects incorrectly. | Confusing with 'turn down' which means to reject., Using with a noun directly; it only works with a subject that performs an action. |
| Usage notes | Used for both literal arrivals and figurative situations. It's less formal than 'arrives'. | Use 'turn up' when someone arrives or appears, often without prior notice. It's informal and suitable for casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Comes vs Turns up
What's the difference between Comes and Turns up?
Comes: Arrives or is near. Turns up: To appear unexpectedly or arrive.
Can you show an example of each?
Comes: She always comes to the meeting on time. Turns up: She always turns up at the most unexpected times.
Can I use Comes and Turns up interchangeably?
Not always. Comes and Turns up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.