Cool MateAppear vs Something turns up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Appear
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
Something turns up
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Appear
| Appear | Something turns up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈpɪə(r)/","/əˈpɪəz/","/əˈpɪəd/","/əˈpɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpɪr/","/əˈpɪrz/","/əˈpɪrd/","/əˈpɪrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌmθɪŋ tɜːnz ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌmθɪŋ tɜrn ʌp// |
| Meaning | to come into view or be seen | Something appears or is discovered unexpectedly. |
| Example | She decided to appear in the school play this year. | I didn't expect to see you here; I thought you'd never turn up. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Collocations | suddenly, from nowhere, magically, suddenly, from nowhere, magically, currently, frequently, occasionally, at, appear on television, at, appear before a court, appear before a judge, appear before a magistrate | unexpectedly turn up, turn up the volume, turn up missing, turn up late, not turn up |
| Antonyms | disappear, vanish, fade | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'appear' with a noun directly, instead of an adjective., Confusing 'appear' with 'disappear'., Misusing 'appear' in the past tense or perfect forms. | Confusing with 'show up' which is slightly different in meaning., Using in contexts where a more formal phrase is appropriate., Misplacing the phrase, for example, saying 'turn up something' instead of 'something turns up'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'appear' to describe how something looks or becomes visible. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but avoid in very casual contexts. 'Seem' can sometimes be used interchangeably, but 'appear' is more about visual presence. | Use in casual conversations to describe unexpected appearances. Not suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Appear vs Something turns up
What's the difference between Appear and Something turns up?
Appear: to come into view or be seen Something turns up: Something appears or is discovered unexpectedly.
Which is more common: Appear and Something turns up?
Appear is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Appear: She decided to appear in the school play this year. Something turns up: I didn't expect to see you here; I thought you'd never turn up.
Can I use Appear and Something turns up interchangeably?
Not always. Appear and Something 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.