Meaning & use
outturn
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountableformalbusiness
The total amount of something that is produced or achieved in a particular period, especially in farming or industry.
Grammar: Can be used with a number or amount (a large outturn) or without (the outturn was poor).
Patterns
- the outturn of something
- a high/low outturn
- outturn figures
The outturn of wheat this year was lower than expected due to the drought.
The factory's outturn increased by 15% after the new machinery was installed.
Official outturn figures for the last quarter will be released next week.
nouncountableformalbusinessfinance
The final result or outcome of a process, especially in business or finance.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'the outturn of something' or 'the outturn was'.
Patterns
- the outturn of something
- the outturn was
The outturn of the negotiations was a compromise that satisfied neither side.
We are still waiting to see the outturn of the company's restructuring plan.
Word forms
| plural | outturns |
|---|
Common combinations
- agricultural outturn
- The agricultural outturn for the region has been declining for years.
- outturn figures
- The outturn figures show a clear improvement over last year.
- final outturn
- The final outturn will be announced at the annual meeting.
- outturn of a crop
- The outturn of the rice crop was affected by the floods.
Synonyms and how they differ
- output
- Output is more general and can refer to any production, while outturn is often used in formal or agricultural contexts.
- yield
- Yield is common in farming and science for the amount produced, but outturn is broader and can also mean a final result.
- production
- Production focuses on the process or amount produced, while outturn often emphasizes the total achieved in a period.
Commonly confused: outturn or outcome? outturn or output?
outturn vs outcome
Outcome means a result or consequence, often of an event or process. Outturn is more specific to production or formal results in business and farming.
outturn vs output
Output is a more everyday word for the amount produced. Outturn is formal and less common in general conversation.
Practice
The company's annual report showed a record ______ of steel from its new plant.
Choose one answer.
Outturn fits because it refers to the total amount produced in a period, especially in industry. Output is also possible but less formal and more general; outcome means a result, not a physical amount; outlet is a place where something is sold.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “outturn”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.