Ten twists about to become one on the way out (8)
I believe the answer is:
emergent
'on the way out' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'ten twists about to become one' is the wordplay.
'twists' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'twist' mean this (a twisted or distorted version of the letters)).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'to become one' becomes 'merge' (merging is a kind of becoming one).
'ten' is an anagram of 'ent'.
'ent' going around 'merge' is 'EMERGENT'.
(Other definitions for emergent that I've seen before include "making an appearance" , "In the process of coming into prominence" , "Greet men (anag) - developing" , "Suddenly appearing" , "Newly independent" .)