make

1 of 2

verb

ˈmāk 

made ˈmād  ; making; makes

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material : fashion

make a dress

b

: to lay out and construct

make a road

c

: compose, write

make verses

2

: to put together from components : constitute

houses made of stone

3

a

: to cause to happen to or be experienced by someone

made trouble for us

b

: to cause to exist, occur, or appear : create

make a disturbance

c

: to favor the growth or occurrence of

haste makes waste

d

: to fit, intend, or destine by or as if by creating

was made to be an actor

4

a

: enact, establish

make laws

b

: to execute (see execute sense 2) in an appropriate manner

make a will

c

: set, name

make a price

5

a

: to cause to be or become

made them happy

makes it possible

b

: appoint

made him bishop

6

: to cause to act in a certain way : compel

make her give it back

7

a

: to carry out (an action indicated or implied by the object)

make war

make a speech

make a detour

b

: to perform with a bodily movement

make a sweeping gesture

8

: to frame or formulate in the mind

make plans

9

a

: to set in order

make beds

b

: prepare, fix

make dinner

c

: to assemble and set alight the materials for (a fire)

d

: to shuffle (a deck of cards) in preparation for dealing

10

a

: to amount to in significance

makes a great difference

b

: to count as

that makes the third time you've said it

c

: to form the essential being of

clothes make the man

d

: to form by an assembling of individuals

make a quorum

11

a

: to be or be capable of being changed or fashioned into

rags make the best paper

b

: to develop into

she will make a fine judge

c

: form sense 6b

12

a

: reach, attain

made port before the storm

—often used with it

you'll never make it that far

b

: to gain a place on or in

make the team

the story made the papers

c

: to gain the rank of

make major

d

: to succeed in providing or obtaining

make bail

13

: to gain (something, such as money) by working, trading, or dealing

make a living

14

a

: to act so as to earn or acquire

makes friends easily

makes poor grades

b

: to score in a game or sport

make a field goal

make a birdie

c

: to convert (a split) into a spare in bowling

d

: to succeed in holing

make a putt

15

a

: to conclude as to the nature or meaning of something

what do you make of this development?

b

: to regard as being

not the fool some make him

16

a

: to produce as a result of action, effort, or behavior with respect to something

make a mess of the job

tried to make a thorough job of it

b

archaic : to turn into another language by translation

17

a

: to include in a route or itinerary

make New York on the return trip

—often used with it

make it to the party

b

: catch sense 6b

made the bus just in time

18

: to cause or assure the success or prosperity of

can either make you or break you

19

: to provide the most enjoyable or satisfying experience of

meeting the star of the show really made our day

20

a

: to compute or estimate to be

I make it 23 miles to the border from here.

b

: to form and hold in the mind

make no doubt of it

21

a

: to begin or seem to begin (an action)

made to go

b

obsolete : behave, act

22

a

: to fulfill (a contract) in a card game

b

: to win a trick (see trick entry 1 sense 4) with (a card)

23

: to prepare (hay) by cutting, drying, and storing

24

a

: to cause (an electric circuit) to be completed

b

chiefly dialectal : shut

the doors are made against you

—William Shakespeare

25

: to persuade to consent to sexual intercourse : seduce

intransitive verb

1

: to have considerable effect

courtesy makes for safer driving

2

: set out, head

made after the fox

made straight for home

3

a

: to begin or seem to begin a certain action

made as though to hand it to me

b

: to act so as to be or to seem to be

make merry

c

: behave, act

Don't make as if you didn't hear me.

d

slang : to play a part

—usually used with like

make like a chicken

4

: to increase in height or size

the tide is making now

5

: to reach or extend in a certain direction

The forest makes up nearly to the snow line.

6

: to undergo manufacture or processing

the silk makes up beautifully

7

archaic : to compose poetry

make

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: brand sense 4a

b

: the manner or style in which a thing is constructed

2

: the physical, mental, or moral constitution of a person

men of his make are rare

3

a

: the action of producing or manufacturing

b

: the actual yield or amount produced over a specified period : output

4

: the act of shuffling cards

also : turn to shuffle

Phrases

make a face or make faces

: to distort one's features : grimace

He made a face when I mentioned her name.

make a mountain out of a molehill

: to treat a trifling matter as of great importance

make away with

1

: to carry off : steal

made away with all the money

2

: kill

make believe

: pretend, feign

made believe that everything was all right

make bold

: venture, dare

making bold to think of himself as a guardian of culture

—W. H. Pritchard

make book

: to accept bets at calculated odds on all the entrants in a race or contest

a bartender who made book on the side

make common cause

: to unite to achieve a shared goal

attempted to make common cause with the radicals in areas they could agree on

make do

: to get along or manage with the means at hand

will just have to make do with what we've got

make ends meet

: to make one's means adequate to one's needs

did all they could do to make ends meet

make eyes

: ogle

Some guy was making eyes at her from across the room.

make friends with

: to establish a friendship or friendly relations with

made friends with his new neighbors

make fun of

: to make an object of amusement or laughter : ridicule, mock

the movie made fun of macho pretensions

—Pauline Kael

make good

1

or make good on : to make valid or complete: such as

a

: to carry out successfully

made good their escape

made good on his promise

b

: indemnify

make good the loss

c

: to make up for (a deficiency)

made good previous neglect of his child

d

: prove

made good a charge

2

: to prove to be capable

also : succeed

The play made good at the box office.

make hay

: to make use of a situation or circumstance especially in order to gain an advantage

The candidate made hay of his opponent's scandalous behavior.

make head

1

: to make progress especially against resistance

they made head against the wind

—Charles Dickens

2

: to rise in armed revolt

riflemen who … were called on to make head against a series of resolute efforts to drive them from Kentucky

—Theodore Roosevelt

make it

1

: survive, live

half the cubs won't make it through their first year

2

a

: to be successful

trying to make it in the big time as a fashion photographer

—Joe Kane

b

: to be satisfactory or pleasing

if it isn't danceable, it doesn't make it for me

—Judy Hyman

3

: to have sexual intercourse

make light of

: to treat as of little account

all these problems are humorously described but never made light of

—Susan Kenney

make love

1

a

: to engage in sexual intercourse

b

: neck, pet

2

: woo, court

make much of

1

: to treat as of importance

The drill sergeant made much of his toughness.

2

: to treat with obvious affection or special consideration

she had evidently enjoyed being made much of in Youngstown

—New Yorker

make nice

: to be deliberately and often insincerely polite and agreeable

must make nice to politicians they cannot stand

—Ken Auletta

make no bones

: to be straightforward, unhesitating, or sure

makes no bones about the seriousness of the matter

make one's mark

: to achieve success or fame

made his mark as a literary critic

—Eric Partridge

make public

: disclose

None of those disagreements were made public.

make sail

1

: to set out on a voyage

The ship made sail at midnight.

2

: to raise or spread sail

make shift

: to manage with difficulty

We didn't have much money, but we made shift.

make sport of

: ridicule, mock

it visibly grieved him when the rest of us made sport of our schoolmates

—Tobias Wolff

make the grade

: to measure up to some standard : be successful

clever and energetic enough to make the grade in a good law firm

—John Train

make the most of

: to show or use to the best advantage

made the most of her talents

make the scene

: to be present at or participate in a usually specified activity or event

small time poets just making the scene at readings or in little mags

—B. Frazer

make time

1

: to travel fast

made fast time

2

: to gain time

have to make time to get to the bank before it closes

3

: to make progress toward winning favor

trying to make time with the waitress

make tracks

1

: to go in a hurry : run away, flee

she quickly made tracks for New York

—Glamour

2

: to proceed at a walk or run

make use of

: to put to use : employ

Students made good use of the new gymnasium.

make water

1

of a boat : leak

2

: urinate

make waves

: to create a stir or disturbance

continues to make waves with his unique, highly opinionated approach

—Suzanne Biallot

make way

1

: to give room for passing, entering, or occupying

many of the old villas were being torn down to make way for high rises

—William Murray

2

: to make progress

make with

slang : produce, perform

—usually used with the

Straighten up and walk … make with the feet

—Raymond Chandler

on the make

1

: in quest of a higher social or financial status

2

: in search of sexual adventure

3

: in the process of forming, growing, or improving

Synonyms

Verb

• fabricate
• fashion
• form
• frame
• manufacture
• produce

Examples of make in a Sentence

Verb

He works in a factory that makes jet engines.

She made the curtains herself.

He collected wood to make a fire.

She used cheese and a mixture of other ingredients to make a delicious sauce.

Someone was making a disturbance.

The car's engine has been making a strange noise lately.

The rock made a dent in the car's fender.

I'm not trying to make trouble.

The typist made a mistake.

I called the doctor's office to make an appointment.

Noun

“What make of car is that?” “I think it's a Ford.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That demand has pushed the average asking rent to an all-time high, suggesting that those making leasing decisions are seeking high-end spaces, per CBRE. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024

The band’s passion for the arts and philanthropy, along with their enduring commitment to social causes, has made a lasting impact that goes beyond the stage. —Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024

Noun

This was another way to get more efficiency out of the second make line and help increase speed of service and convenience for guests. —Paulina Likos, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2024

Multiple media outlets were reporting the car was a 2022 Honda Pilot but police did not immediately confirm the make and model. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English macian; akin to Old High German mahhōn to prepare, make, Greek magēnai to be kneaded, Old Church Slavic mazati to anoint, smear

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 21b

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing make

• a world of make-believe
• be/make so bold
• can make nothing of
• don't make me laugh
• draw/make an analogy between
• get/have/make a late start
• get/make an early start
• give/make a yelp
• give/make no response
• kiss and make up
• make a beeline for
• make a big deal (out) of (something)
• make a big difference
• make a big thing about/out of (something)
• make a bolt for
• make a bolt for it
• make a botch of
• make a break for
• make a buck
• make a chill/shiver run up/down someone's spine
• make a clean break
• make a clean breast of
• make a comparison
• make a complete/full recovery
• make a dash for
• make a day/night/morning/afternoon/evening of it
• make a deposit
• make a difference
• make a discrimination
• make a dive for
• make a donation
• make a fashion statement
• make a federal case out of
• make a fool of oneself
• make a fool (out) of
• make a fresh/new start
• make a good fist of
• make a go of
• make a grab for
• make a hash of
• make a living
• make allowance for
• make all the difference
• make a meal (out) of
• make amends
• make a mental note
• make a mess of
• make a monkey out of
• make a move
• make a muck of (something)
• make a name for (oneself)
• make an appearance
• make an attempt
• make an attempt on (someone's) life
• make an early night of it
• make an example of
• make an exception
• make an exhibition of oneself
• make an honest woman of (someone)
• make an issue of
• make an offer
• make (a) nonsense of
• make a nuisance of oneself
• make an unsuccessful run for
• make (any) sense of
• make a/one's selection
• make a pass at
• make a pig of oneself
• make a pig's ear (out) of
• make a place
• make a play for
• make a point of (doing something)
• make a poor fist of
• make a pretense of
• make a promise
• make a quick exit
• make a run at
• make a run for
• make a run for it
• make a sale
• make a scene
• make a song and dance about (something)
• make a spectacle of oneself
• make a splash
• make a start
• make a stop
• make a study of
• make a/the connection
• make a virtue (out) of necessity
• make a wish
• make-belief
• make capital out of
• make certain
• make certain of
• make change
• make comparisons
• make compromises
• make contact
• make contact with
• make conversation
• make deliveries
• make ducks and drakes of
• make every effort
• make eyes at
• make for
• make free with
• make friends
• make good one's escape
• make good time
• make haste
• make headway
• make heavy weather of
• make history
• make it a point to (do something)
• make it a rule
• make it one's business
• make it plain
• make it snappy
• make it up
• make it up to (someone)
• make it worth your while
• make landfall
• make like
• make many demands on
• make matters worse
• make mention of
• make merry
• make mincemeat (out) of
• make money
• make music
• make no allowance for
• make no apologies for
• make no attempt
• make no bones about
• make no difference
• make no mention of
• make no mistake
• make no odds
• make no secret of
• make no sense
• make of
• make off
• make off with
• make one's acquaintance
• make one's bed and lie in it
• make oneself at home
• make oneself clear
• make oneself known
• make oneself scarce
• make oneself useful
• make one's entrance
• make one's escape
• make one's hair curl
• make one's hair stand on end
• make one's home
• make one's name
• make one's peace with (someone)
• make one's presence felt/heard/known
• make one's toes curl
• make one's way
• make-or-break
• make out
• make out like a bandit
• make over
• make progress
• make/put a dent
• make redundant
• make reference to
• make sense
• make short/quick/light work of
• make some allowance for
• make (someone) an honest woman
• make someone feel (right) at home
• make someone's blood boil
• make someone's blood curdle
• make someone's blood run cold
• make someone's day
• make someone's flesh crawl/creep
• make someone's gorge rise
• make someone's hackles rise
• make someone's head spin
• make someone's skin crawl/creep
• make someone's skin/flesh crawl
• make someone's skin/flesh creep
• make someone's stomach turn
• make someone (want to) puke
• make (something) into a big deal
• make (something) known
• make something of it
• make something of (oneself)
• make something of one's life
• make (something) one's own
• make (something) stick
• make sure
• make the acquaintance of someone
• make the bed
• make the best of
• make the best of a bad job
• make the best of it
• make the cut
• make the final/supreme/ultimate sacrifice
• make the first move
• make the introductions
• make the rounds
• make the shot
• make time for (someone)
• make up
• make up for lost time
• make up for (something)
• make up ground
• make up one's mind
• make up (the) leeway
• make up to (someone)
• make up your own mind
• make whoopee
• make-work
• many hands make light work
• not make any difference
• not make head or/nor tail of
• not make heads or/nor tails (out) of
• on the make
• place/make a wager
• play make-believe
• pre-make
• put/make (someone) wise to
• put the make on
• take/make a stab at
• two wrongs don't make a right
• what difference does it/that make?
• what time do you make it

Kids Definition

make

1 of 2 verb

ˈmāk 

made ˈmād  ; making

1

a

: to begin or seem to begin an action

she made as if to go

b

: to act so as to appear

make merry

2

a

: to cause to exist or occur : create

make a noise

make trouble

b

: to create for some purpose or goal

she was made to be a surgeon

3

a

: to form or shape out of material or parts : fashion, construct

make a dress

make a chair

b

: to combine to produce

2 and 2 make 4

4

: to frame in the mind

make plans

5

: to put together from parts

houses made of stone

6

: to estimate to be : compute

I make it an even $5

7

a

: to set in order

make a bed

b

: prepare, fix

make dinner

8

: to cut and spread for drying

make hay

9

a

: to cause to be or become

made herself useful

b

: appoint

made him her assistant

10

a

: enact sense 1, establish

make laws

b

: to prepare in an appropriate manner

make a will

11

a

: understand sense 1a

unable to make anything of the story

b

: to regard as being : consider

he is not the fool you make him

12

: do entry 1 sense 1a, perform

make war

make a bow

13

: to produce or acquire by or as if by action or effort

made a mess of the job

make good money

make friends

14

: to force to act in some manner

made her return home

15

: to cause or assure the success of

the first case made the new lawyer

16

: to develop into

she will make a fine judge

17

a

: reach entry 1 sense 2c, attain

the ship makes port tonight

he made corporal in 10 months

they made it to the other side of the bridge

b

: to gain a place on or in

made the track team

the story made the papers

18

: catch entry 1 sense 7b

make the train

19

: to set out in pursuit

made after the fox

20

: to provide the most satisfying experience of

meeting the star of the show really made our day

make

2 of 2 noun

1

: the way in which a thing is made : structure

2

: a particular kind of manufactured goods : brand

looked at several makes of car before deciding