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make   (māk) Pronunciation Key
v.   made (mād), mak·ing, makes

v.   tr.

To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create: made problems for us; making a commotion.
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct: make a dress; made a stone wall.
To form by assembling individuals or constituents: make a quorum.
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.
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.
To be suited for: Oak makes strong furniture.
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.
To cover (a distance): made 200 miles before sunset
To constitute the essence or nature of: Clothes make the man.
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding: You made my day.
To appear to begin (an action): She made to leave.
Slang To persuade to have sexual intercourse.

v. intr.

To act or behave in a specified manner: make merry; make free.
To begin or appear to begin an action: made as if to shake my hand.
To cause something to be as specified: make ready; make sure.
To proceed in a certain direction: made for home; made after the thief.
Slang To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like: made like a ballerina.
To undergo fabrication or manufacture: This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
To rise or accumulate: The tide is making.

The act or process of making; manufacturing.
The style or manner in which a thing is made: disliked the make of my coat.
The amount produced, especially the output of a factory.
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark: a famous make of shirt.
The physical or moral nature of a person; character or disposition: found out what make of man he was.
Slang Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records: Did you get a make on the thief?
To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
To help promote; further: makes for better communication.
To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
To understand: could not make out what she said.
To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
To fill in (a form, for example).
Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
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.
To redo; renovate.
To change or transfer the ownership of, usually by means of a legal document: made over the property to her son.
To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
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.
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.
To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
To set in order: make up a room.
Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.
To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
make for

To have or produce (a particular effect or result): small details that make for comfort.
To help promote; further: makes for better communication.

make off
To depart in haste; run away.
make out

To discern or see, especially with difficulty: I could barely make out the traffic signs through the rain.
To understand: could not make out what she said.
To write out; draw up: made out the invoices.
To fill in (a form, for example).
Informal To represent as being: made me out to be a liar.
Informal To try to establish or prove: He made out that he was innocent.
To get along in a given way; fare: made out well in business.
Slang
1. To neck; pet.
2. To have sexual intercourse.

make over

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

make up

To put together; construct or compose: make up a prescription.
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.
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.
To resolve a quarrel: kissed and made up.
To make ingratiating or fawning overtures. Used with to: made up to his friend's boss.
To take (an examination or course) again or at a later time because of previous absence or failure.
To set in order: make up a room.
Printing To select and arrange material for: made up the front page.

make with Slang

To bring into use: a flirt making with the eyes.
To put forth; produce: always making with the jokes.

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

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

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

Idiom(s):
make away with

To carry off; steal.
To use up or consume.
To kill or destroy.

Idiom(s):
make believe
To pretend.

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

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

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

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

Idiom(s):
make eyes
To ogle.

Idiom(s):
make fun of
To mock; ridicule.

Idiom(s):
make good

To carry out successfully: made good his escape.
To fulfill: made good her promise.
To make compensation for; make up for: made good the loss.
To succeed: made good as a writer.

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

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

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

Idiom(s):
make it

Informal To achieve a goal; be successful. finally made it as an actor.
Slang To have sexual intercourse.

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

Idiom(s):
make love

To engage in amorous caressing.
To engage in sexual intercourse.

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

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

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

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

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

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

To go forward; advance.
To succeed, especially in making a living.

Idiom(s):
make sail

To begin a voyage.
To set sail.

Idiom(s):
make sense

To be coherent or intelligible: an explanation that made sense.
To be practical or advisable: It makes sense to go now.

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

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

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

Idiom(s):
make the scene Slang

To put in an appearance: made the scene at the party.
To participate in a specified activity: made the drug scene.

Idiom(s):
make time

To travel speedily.
To travel at a specified rate: We made good time getting to town.
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) mind
To 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

To give room for passage; move aside.
To make progress.

Idiom(s):
on the make Slang

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

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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