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make out

 - 6 dictionary results
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make

1  [meyk] verb, made, mak⋅ing, noun
Use make out in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.: to make a dress; to make a channel; to make a work of art.
2. to produce; cause to exist or happen; bring about: to make trouble; to make war.
3. to cause to be or become; render: to make someone happy.
4. to appoint or name: The President made her his special envoy.
5. to put in the proper condition or state, as for use; fix; prepare: to make a bed; to make dinner.
6. to bring into a certain form: to make bricks out of clay.
7. to convert from one state, condition, category, etc., to another: to make a virtue of one's vices.
8. to cause, induce, or compel: to make a horse jump a barrier.
9. to give rise to; occasion: It's not worth making a fuss over such a trifle.
10. to produce, earn, or win for oneself: to make a good salary; to make one's fortune in oil.
11. to write or compose: to make a short poem for the occasion.
12. to draw up, as a legal document; draft: to make a will.
13. to do; effect: to make a bargain.
14. to establish or enact; put into existence: to make laws.
15. to become by development; prove to be: You'll make a good lawyer.
16. to form in the mind, as a judgment or estimate: to make a decision.
17. to judge or interpret, as to the truth, nature, meaning, etc. (often fol. by of): What do you make of it?
18. to estimate; reckon: to make the distance at ten miles.
19. to bring together separate parts so as to produce a whole; compose; form: to make a matched set.
20. to amount to; bring up the total to: Two plus two makes four. That makes an even dozen.
21. to serve as: to make good reading.
22. to be sufficient to constitute: One story does not make a writer.
23. to be adequate or suitable for: This wool will make a warm sweater.
24. to assure the success or fortune of: a deal that could make or break him; Seeing her made my day.
25. to deliver, utter, or put forth: to make a stirring speech.
26. to go or travel at a particular speed: to make 60 miles an hour.
27. to arrive at or reach; attain: The ship made port on Friday. Do you think he'll make 80?
28. to arrive in time for: to make the first show.
29. to arrive in time to be a passenger on (a plane, boat, bus, train, etc.): If you hurry, you can make the next flight.
30. Informal. to gain or acquire a position within: He made the big time.
31. to receive mention or appear in or on: The robbery made the front page.
32. to gain recognition or honor by winning a place or being chosen for inclusion in or on: The novel made the bestseller list. He made the all-American team three years in a row.
33. Slang. to have sexual intercourse with.
34. Cards.
a. to name (the trump).
b. to take a trick with (a card).
c. Bridge. to fulfill or achieve (a contract or bid).
d. to shuffle (the cards).
35. to earn, as a score: The team made 40 points in the first half.
36. Slang. (esp. in police and underworld use)
a. to recognize or identify: Any cop in town will make you as soon as you walk down the street.
b. to charge or cause to be charged with a crime: The police expect to make a couple of suspects soon.
37. to close (an electric circuit).
38. South Midland and Southern U.S. to plant and cultivate or produce (a crop): He makes some of the best corn in the country.
–verb (used without object)
39. to cause oneself, or something understood, to be as specified: to make sure.
40. to show oneself to be or seem in action or behavior (usually fol. by an adjective): to make merry.
41. to be made, as specified: This fabric makes up into beautiful drapes.
42. to move or proceed in a particular direction: They made after the thief.
43. to rise, as the tide or water in a ship.
44. South Midland and Southern U.S. (of a crop) to grow, develop, or mature: It looks like the corn's going to make pretty good this year.
45. make down, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to rain or snow: It's making down hard.
46. make fast, Chiefly Nautical. to fasten or secure.
47. make shut, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to close: Make the door shut.
–noun
48. the style or manner in which something is made; form; build.
49. production with reference to the maker; brand: our own make.
50. disposition; character; nature.
51. the act or process of making.
52. quantity made; output.
53. Cards. the act of naming the trump, or the suit named as trump.
54. Electricity. the closing of an electric circuit.
55. Jewelry. the excellence of a polished diamond with regard to proportion, symmetry, and finish.
56. Slang. identifying information about a person or thing from police records: He radioed headquarters for a make on the car's license plate.
—Verb phrases
57. make out,
a. to write out or complete, as a bill or check.
b. to establish; prove.
c. to decipher; discern.
d. to imply, suggest, or impute: He made me out to be a liar.
e. to manage; succeed: How are you making out in your new job?
f. Slang. to engage in kissing and caressing; neck.
g. Slang. to have sexual intercourse.
h. Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to turn off or extinguish (esp. a light or fire): Make the light out.
58. make over,
a. to remodel; alter: to make over a dress; to make over a page layout.
b. to transfer the title of (property); convey: After she retired she made over her property to her children and moved to Florida.
59. make for,
a. to go toward; approach: to make for home.
b. to lunge at; attack.
c. to help to promote or maintain: This incident will not make for better understanding between the warring factions.
60. make off,
a. to run away; depart hastily: The only witness to the accident made off before the police arrived.
b. Nautical. to stand off from a coast, esp. a lee shore.
61. make off with, to carry away; steal: While the family was away, thieves made off with most of their valuables.
62. make on, Chiefly Pennsylvania German. to turn on, light, or ignite (esp. a light or fire): Make the light on.
63. make up,
a. (of parts) to constitute; compose; form.
b. to put together; construct; compile.
c. to concoct; invent.
d. Also, make up for. to compensate for; make good.
e. to complete.
f. to put in order; arrange: The maid will make up the room.
g. to conclude; decide.
h. to settle amicably, as differences.
i. to become reconciled, as after a quarrel.
j. Printing. to arrange set type, illustrations, etc., into columns or pages.
k. to dress in appropriate costume and apply cosmetics for a part on the stage.
l. to apply cosmetics.
m. to adjust or balance, as accounts; prepare, as statements.
n. Education. to repeat (a course or examination that one has failed).
o. Education. to take an examination that one had been unable to take when first given, usually because of absence.
p. to specify and indicate the layout or arrangement of (columns, pages, etc., of matter to be printed).
q. Atlantic States. (of the weather or clouds) to develop or gather: It's making up for a storm.
r. Atlantic States. (of the sea) to become turbulent: If the sea makes up, row toward land.
64. make up to,
a. Informal. to try to become friendly with; fawn on.
b. to make advances to; flirt with: He makes up to every new woman in the office.
—Idioms
65. make a play for, to try to get: He made a play for his brother's girlfriend. They made a play for control of the company's stock.
66. make as if or as though, Informal. to act as if; pretend: We will make as if to leave, then come back and surprise him.
67. make away with,
a. to steal: The clerk made away with the cash and checks.
b. to destroy; kill: He made away with his enemies.
c. to get rid of.
d. to consume, drink, or eat completely: The boys made away with the contents of the refrigerator.
68. make believe, to pretend; imagine: The little girl dressed in a sheet and made believe she was a ghost.
69. make bold or so bold, to have the temerity; be so rash; dare: May I make so bold as to suggest that you stand when they enter?
70. make book, Slang.
a. to take bets and give odds.
b. to make a business of this.
71. make colors, Nautical. to hoist an ensign, as on board a warship.
72. make do, to function, manage, or operate, usually on a deprivation level with minimal requirements: During the war we had no butter or coffee, so we had to make do without them.
73. make good,
a. to provide restitution or reparation for: The bank teller made good the shortage and was given a light sentence.
b. to succeed: Talent and training are necessary to make good in some fields.
c. to fulfill: He made good on his promise.
d. Navigation. to compute (a course) allowing for leeway and compass deviation.
74. make heavy weather,
a. Nautical. to roll and pitch in heavy seas.
b. to progress laboriously; struggle, esp. to struggle needlessly: I am making heavy weather with my income tax return.
75. make it,
a. Informal. to achieve a specific goal: to make it to the train; to make it through college.
b. Informal. to succeed in general: He'll never make it in business.
c. Slang. to have sexual intercourse.
76. make it so, Nautical. strike the ship's bell accordingly: said by the officer of the watch when the hour is announced.
77. make like, Informal. to try or pretend to be like; imitate: I'm going to go out and make like a gardener.
78. make one's manners, Southern U.S.
a. to perform an appropriate or expected social courtesy.
b. Older Use. to bow or curtsy.
79. make sail, Nautical.
a. to set sails.
b. to brace the yards of a ship that has been hove to in order to make headway.
80. make time. time (def. 52).
81. make water,
a. to urinate.
b. Nautical. (of a hull) to leak.
82. make with, Slang.
a. to operate; use: Let's make with the feet.
b. to bring about; provide or produce: He makes with the big ideas, but can't follow through.
83. on the make, Informal.
a. seeking to improve one's social or financial position, usually at the expense of others or of principle.
b. increasing; advancing.
c. Slang. seeking amorous or sexual relations: The park was swarming with sailors on the make.
84. put the make on, Slang. to make sexual overtures to.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME maken, OE macian; c. LG, D maken, G machen

Related forms:
mak⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. form; build; produce; fabricate, create, fashion, mold. Make, construct, manufacture mean to produce, to put into definite form, or to put parts together to make a whole. Make is the general term: Bees make wax. Construct, more formal, means to put parts together, usually according to a plan or design: to construct a building. Manufacture usually refers to producing something from material that requires conversion from one state or condition to another, now almost entirely by means of machinery in a relatively complex process: to manufacture automobiles by the assembly of different parts. The term is also often used contemptuously of unimaginative or hackneyed works of art with the implication that the work was produced mechanically, and is used abstractly with the idea of denying genuineness: to manufacture an excuse. 7. transform, change, turn. 8. force. 10. get, gain, acquire, obtain, secure, procure. 13. perform, execute. 18. judge, gauge. 48. shape, structure, construction, constitution.

Antonyms:
1. destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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make   (māk)   
v.   made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.

  2. To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.

  3. To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.

  4. To change from one form or function to another: make clay into bricks.

    1. To cause to be or become: made her position clear; a decision that made him happy.

    2. To cause to assume a specified function or role: made her treasurer; made Austin his home.

    3. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    4. To compel: made him quit.

    5. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    6. To compose: make verses.

    7. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    8. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    9. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    10. To engage in: make war.

    11. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    12. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    13. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    14. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    15. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    16. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    17. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    18. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    19. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    20. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    21. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    22. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    23. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    24. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    25. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    26. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    27. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    28. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    29. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To cause to act in a specified manner: Heat makes gases expand.

    2. To compel: made him quit.

    3. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    4. To compose: make verses.

    5. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    6. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    7. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    8. To engage in: make war.

    9. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    10. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    11. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    12. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    13. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    14. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    15. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    16. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    17. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    18. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    19. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    20. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    21. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    22. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    23. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    24. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    25. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    26. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    27. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To form in the mind: make an estimate.

    2. To compose: make verses.

    3. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    4. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    5. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    6. To engage in: make war.

    7. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    8. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    9. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    10. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    11. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    12. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    13. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    14. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    15. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    16. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    17. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    18. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    19. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    20. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    21. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    22. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    23. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    24. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    25. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To prepare; fix: make dinner.

    2. To get ready or set in order for use: made the bed.

    3. To gather and light the materials for (a fire).

    4. To engage in: make war.

    5. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    6. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    7. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    8. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    9. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    10. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    11. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    12. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    13. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    14. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    15. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    16. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    17. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    18. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    19. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    20. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    21. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    22. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    23. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To engage in: make war.

    2. To carry out; perform: make a phone call; make an incision.

    3. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    4. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    5. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    6. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    7. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    8. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    9. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    10. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    11. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    12. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    13. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    14. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    15. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    16. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    17. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    18. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    19. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    20. To amount to: makes no difference.

  10. To achieve, produce, or attain: made peace between the two sides; not making sense; didn't make the quota.

    1. To institute or establish; enact: make laws.

    2. To draw up and execute in a suitable form: make a will.

    3. To arrange or agree to: make a date.

    4. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    5. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    6. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    7. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    8. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    9. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    10. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    11. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    12. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    13. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    14. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    15. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    16. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    17. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    18. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To arrive at; reach: made Seattle in two hours.

    2. To reach in time: just made the plane.

    3. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    4. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    5. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    6. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    7. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    8. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    9. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    10. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    11. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    12. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    13. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    14. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    15. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To attain the rank or position of: made lieutenant.

    2. To acquire a place in or on: made the baseball team; made the newspapers.

    3. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    4. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    5. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    6. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    7. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    8. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    9. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    10. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    11. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    12. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    13. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To gain or earn, as by working: make money.

    2. To behave so as to acquire: make friends.

    3. To score or achieve, as in a sport: made a field goal.

    4. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    5. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    6. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    7. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    8. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    9. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    10. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    11. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To assure the success of: Favorable reviews can make a play.

    2. To favor the development of: Practice makes a winning team.

    3. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    4. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    5. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    6. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    7. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    8. To amount to: makes no difference.

  16. To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.

  17. To develop into: will make a fine doctor.

    1. To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of: don't know what to make of the decision.

    2. To calculate as being; estimate: I make the height 20 feet.

    3. To consider as being: wasn't the problem some people made it.

    4. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    5. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    6. To amount to: makes no difference.

    1. To constitute: Ten members make a quorum.

    2. To add up to: Two and two make four.

    3. To amount to: makes no difference.

  20. To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset

  21. To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.

  22. To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.

  23. To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.

  24. Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v.   intr.

  1. To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.

  2. To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.

  3. To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.

  4. To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.

  5. Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.

  6. To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.

  7. To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

n.  

  1. The act or process of making; manufacturing.

  2. The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.

  3. The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.

  4. A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.

  5. The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.

  6. Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?

  7. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  8. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

  9. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  10. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  11. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  12. To fill in (a form, for example).

  13. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  14. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  15. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  16. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

    3. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    4. To apply cosmetics.

    5. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    6. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  17. To redo; renovate.

  18. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

  19. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  20. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  22. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  24. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  25. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  26. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  27. To set in order: make up a room.

  28. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

  29. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  30. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for

  1. To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.

  2. To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

make offTo depart in haste; run away.
make out

  1. To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.

  2. To understand: could not make out what she said.

  3. To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.

  4. To fill in (a form, for example).

  5. Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.

  6. Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.

  7. To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.

  8. Slang

    1. To neck; pet.

    2. To have sexual intercourse.

make over

  1. To redo; renovate.

  2. To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.

make up

  1. To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.

  2. To constitute; form: Ten years make up a decade.

    1. To alter one's appearance for a role on the stage, as with a costume and cosmetics.

    2. To apply cosmetics.

    3. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    4. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  4. To devise as a fiction or falsehood; invent: made up an excuse.

    1. To make good (a deficit or lack): made up the difference in the bill.

    2. To compensate for: make up for lost time.

  6. To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.

  7. To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.

  8. To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.

  9. To set in order: make up a room.

  10. Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

make with Slang

  1. To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.

  2. To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.


Idiom(s):
make a clean breast ofTo confess fully.

Idiom(s):
make a faceTo distort the features of the face; grimace.

Idiom(s):
make a go ofTo achieve success in: have made a go of the business.

Idiom(s):
make away with

  1. To carry off; steal.

  2. To use up or consume.

  3. To kill or destroy.


Idiom(s):
make believeTo pretend.

Idiom(s):
make boldTo venture: I will not make so bold as to criticize such a scholar.

Idiom(s):
make bookTo accept bets on a race, game, or contest.

Idiom(s):
make doTo manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.

Idiom(s):
make ends meetTo manage so that one's means are sufficient for one's needs.

Idiom(s):
make eyesTo ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun ofTo mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good

  1. To carry out successfully: made good his escape.

  2. To fulfill: made good her promise.

  3. To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.

  4. To succeed: made good as a writer.


Idiom(s):
make hayTo turn to one's advantage: The candidate's opponents made hay of the scandal.

Idiom(s):
make heads or tails ofTo understand: I couldn't make heads or tails of the report.

Idiom(s):
make historyTo do something memorable or spectacular enough to influence the course of history: The first space flight made history.

Idiom(s):
make it

  1. Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.

  2. Slang To have sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make light ofTo treat as unimportant: He made light of his illness.

Idiom(s):
make love

  1. To engage in amorous caressing.

  2. To engage in sexual intercourse.


Idiom(s):
make much ofTo treat as of great importance.

Idiom(s):
make no bones aboutTo be forthright and candid about; acknowledge freely: They make no bones about their dislike for each other.

Idiom(s):
make off withTo snatch or steal: made off with the profits.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) dayTo give one great pleasure.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) peace withTo bring oneself to accept; reconcile oneself to.

Idiom(s):
make (one's) way

  1. To go forward; advance.

  2. To succeed, especially in making a living.


Idiom(s):
make sail

  1. To begin a voyage.

  2. To set sail.


Idiom(s):
make sense

  1. To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.

  2. To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.


Idiom(s):
make something ofTo start a fight or quarrel over.

Idiom(s):
make the gradeTo measure up to a given standard.

Idiom(s):
make the most ofTo use to the greatest advantage.

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang

  1. To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.

  2. To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.


Idiom(s):
make time

  1. To travel speedily.

  2. To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.

  3. Slang To make progress toward attracting someone: tried to make time with the new neighbor.


Idiom(s):
make tracks Slang To move or leave in a hurry.

Idiom(s):
make up (one's) mindTo decide between alternatives; come to a definite decision or opinion.

Idiom(s):
make waves Slang To cause a disturbance or controversy.

Idiom(s):
make way

  1. To give room for passage; move aside.

  2. To make progress.


Idiom(s):
on the make Slang

  1. Aggressively striving for financial or social improvement: a young executive on the make.

  2. Eagerly seeking a sexual partner.


[Middle English maken, from Old English macian; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
mak'a·ble, make'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
make out

  1. in.
    to neck and pet. : He started making out when he was twelve.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
make (so)

  1. tv.
    to identify someone. : The cop stared at Bart and tried to make him, but failed to identify him and let him go.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

make  (v.)
O.E. macian, from W.Gmc. *makojanan (cf. O.S. makon, O.Fris. makia "to build, make," M.Du. maken, O.H.G. mahhon, Ger. machen), from PIE *mag- "to knead, mix, make" (see may). Sense evolution probably is via prehistoric houses built of mud. Gradually replaced the main O.E. word, gewyrcan (see work). Meaning "to arrive at" (a place), first attested c.1624, originally was nautical. Formerly used in many places where specific verbs now are used, e.g. to make Latin (c.1500) "to write Latin compositions." This broader usage survives in some phrases, e.g. to make water "to urinate," to make a book "arrange a series of bets" (1828), make hay "to turn over mown grass to expose it to sun." Make do "manage with what is available" is attested from 1899. Make out "get along" is first recorded 1609, sense of "understand" is from 1646, sexual sense first recorded 1939. Make time "go fast" is 1887; make tracks in this sense is from 1834. Make the grade is 1912, perhaps from the notion of railway engines going up an incline. To make up "end a quarrel, reconcile" is from 1669. Phrase on the make "intent on profit or advancement" is from 1869. To make a federal case out of (something) popularized in 1959 movie "Anatomy of a Murder;" to make an offer (one) can't refuse is from Mario Puzo's 1969 novel "The Godfather." To make (one's) day is from 1909; menacing make my day is from 1971, popularized by Clint Eastwood in film "Sudden Impact" (1983).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

make out

  1. Discern or see, especially with difficulty, as in I can hardly make out the number on the door. [Mid-1700s]

  2. Manage, get along, as in How did you make out with the accountant? This usage was first recorded in 1820.

  3. Engage in sexual foreplay or intercourse, as in Bill and Jane were making out on the sofa, or Joe bragged that he made out last night. [Slang; early 1900s]

  4. Understand, as in I can't make out what she is trying to say. [Mid-1600s] Also see can't make head or tail of.

  5. Establish or prove, as in He made out that he was innocent. [Colloquial; mid-1600s]

  6. Imply or suggest. This usage often occurs with an infinitive, as in Are you making me out to be a liar? [Colloquial; mid-1600s]

  7. Write out, draw up; fill in a written form. For example, He made out the invoices, or Jane started making out job applications. This usage was first recorded in 1465.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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