What does the phrasal verb “churn out” mean?

What are the definitions of “churn out”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Produce, usually quickly or in large amounts without much regard to quality.

  The government CHURNS OUT educational policies every few months.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “churn out”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb churn out is to produce something quickly or in large amounts, often without much attention to quality. It is often used to describe the production of goods, ideas, or written work.

What are the different verb forms of “churn out”?

Root Verb	churn out
Third Person Singular Present	churns out
Present Participle	churning out
Simple Past	churned out
Past Participle	churned out

Example

The factory churns out thousands of toys every day.

Example

She churns out articles for the website at an impressive rate.

Example

The company is churning out new products every month.

Example

He churned out five essays in one week.

Example

The writer has churned out several best-selling novels.

What kind of phrasal verb is “churn out”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“churn out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

The factory churns out thousands of toys every day.

Example

She churns out articles for the website at an impressive rate.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“churn out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

The factory churns out thousands of toys every day.

Example

She churns out articles for the website at an impressive rate.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “churn out”?

Churn out ideas

To generate many ideas quickly, often without much thought or consideration.

Example

During the brainstorming session, the team churned out numerous ideas for the project.

Churn out content

To produce a large amount of written, visual, or audio content quickly, often without much attention to quality.

Example

The content creator churns out videos for their YouTube channel every day.

Churn out products

To manufacture or produce a large number of products quickly, often without much attention to quality.

Example

The factory churns out low-quality goods at a rapid pace.

Good things to know

Does “churn out” have an informal or formal tone?

Churn out is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, as well as in more formal settings, such as business meetings or academic discussions.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “churn out”?

Synonyms

• produce
• generate
• create
• manufacture
• mass-produce
• crank out
• pump out
• turn out

Antonyms

• consume
• use
• absorb
• ingest
• assimilate
• take in
• incorporate