Definition of 'make'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
Make is used in a large number of expressions which are explained under other words in
this dictionary. For example, the expression 'to make sense' is explained at 'sense'.
1. verb
You can use make with a wide range of nouns to indicate that someone performs an action or says something. For example, if you make a suggestion, you suggest something.
I'd just like to make a comment. [VERB noun]
I made a few phone calls. [VERB noun]
I think you're making a serious mistake. [VERB noun]
Science and technology have made major changes to the way we live. [VERB noun]
She had made us an offer too good to refuse. [VERB noun noun]
2. verb
You can use make with certain nouns to indicate that someone does something well or badly. For example,
if you make a success of something, you do it successfully, and if you make a mess of something, you do it very badly.
Apparently he made a mess of his audition. [VERB noun + of]
Are you really going to make a better job of it this time? [VERB noun + of]
3. verb
If you make as if to do something or make to do something, you behave in a way that makes it seem that you are just about to do
it.
[written] Mary made as if to protest, then hesitated. [V as if to-inf]
He made to chase Davey, who ran back laughing. [VERB to-infinitive]
4. verb
In cricket, if a player makes a particular number of runs, they score that number of runs. In baseball or American football, if a player makes a particular score, they achieve that score.
He made 1,972 runs for the county. [VERB amount]
5.
See to make do
6.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
1. verb
If something makes you do something, it causes you to do it.
Grit from the highway made him cough. [VERB noun infinitive]
The white tips of his shirt collar made him look like a choirboy. [VERB noun infinitive]
I was made to feel guilty and irresponsible. [be VERB-ed to-infinitive]
2. verb
If you make someone do something, you force them to do it.
Mama made him clean up the plate. [VERB noun infinitive]
You can't make me do anything. [VERB noun infinitive]
They were made to pay $8.8 million in taxes. [be VERB-ed to-infinitive]
3. verb
You use make to talk about causing someone or something to be a particular thing or to have a
particular quality. For example, to make someone a star means to cause them to become a star, and to make someone angry means to cause them to become angry.
...James Bond, the role that made him a star. [VERB noun noun]
He returned to Chicago, and made it his base for the rest of his life. [VERB noun noun]
She made life very difficult for me. [VERB noun adjective]
She's made it obvious that she's appalled by me. [V n adj that]
Rationing has made it easier to find some products like eggs, butter and meat. [V n adj to-inf]
Does your film make a hero of Jim Garrison? [VERB noun + of]
4. verb
If you say that one thing or person makes another seem, for example, small, stupid, or good, you mean that they cause them
to seem small, stupid, or good in comparison, even though they are not.
It can be argued that having such a good team to captain would make anyone appear
a good leader. [VERB noun infinitive]
Since he came to live with me, we have been subject to a campaign of spite and revenge
which makes Lady Sarah appear angelic by comparison. [VERB noun infinitive]
5. verb
If you make yourself understood, heard, or known, you succeed in getting people to understand you, hear you, or know that you are there.
Aron couldn't speak Polish. I made myself understood with difficulty. [V pron-refl -ed]
He almost had to shout to make himself heard above the music. [V pron-refl -ed]
6. verb
If you make someone something, you appoint them to a particular job, role, or position.
Mr Blair made him transport minister. [VERB noun noun]
7. verb
If you make something into something else, you change it in some way so that it becomes that other thing.
We made it into a beautiful home. [VERB noun + into]
Her bestseller is soon to be made into a television mini-series. [VERB noun into noun]
8. verb
To make a total or score a particular amount means to increase it to that amount.
This makes the total cost of the bulb and energy £27. [V n amount]
David scored from 20 yards and then Pete made it 4-0. [V n amount]
9. verb
When someone makes a friend or an enemy, someone becomes their friend or their enemy, often because of a particular thing
they have done.
Lorenzo was a natural leader who made friends easily. [VERB noun]
He was unruly in class and made an enemy of most of his teachers. [VERB noun + of]
11. to make friends
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
1. verb
To make something means to produce, construct, or create it.
She made her own bread. [VERB noun]
They now make cars at two plants in Europe. [VERB noun]
Having curtains made professionally can be costly. [have noun VERB-ed]
They make compost out of all kinds of waste. [V n + from/out of]
2. verb
If someone makes a film or television programme, they are involved in creating or producing it.
We are making a film about wildlife. [VERB noun]
...the film 'Queen Christina', made in 1934. [VERB-ed]
3. verb
If you make a meal or a drink, you prepare it.
You wash while I make some lunch. [VERB noun]
Would you like me to make us all a coffee? [VERB noun noun]
4. verb
If you make a note or list, you write something down in that form.
Mr Perry made a note in his book. [VERB noun]
Make a list of your questions beforehand. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you make rules or laws, you decide what these should be.
The police don't make the laws, they merely enforce them. [VERB noun]
The only person who makes rules in this house is me. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If you make money, you get it by working for it, by selling something, or by winning it.
I think every business's goal is to make money. [VERB noun]
How much did we make? [VERB noun]
Can it be moral to make so much money out of a commodity which is essential to life? [V n + out of/from]
7. verb
If something makes something else, it is responsible for the success of that thing.
What really makes the book are the beautiful designs. [VERB noun]
8. countable noun
The make of something such as a car or radio is the name of the company that made it.
The only car parked outside is a black Saab–a different make.
...a certain make of wristwatch.
brand9.
See on the make
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
1. link verb
You can use make to say that someone or something has the right qualities for a particular task or
role. For example, if you say that someone will make a good politician, you mean that they have the right qualities to be a good politician.
You've a very good idea there. It will make a good book. [VERB noun]
Instructors decided he would never make a pilot. [VERB noun]
I'm very fond of Maurice and I'd make him a good partner. [VERB noun noun]
2. link verb
If people make a particular pattern such as a line or a circle, they arrange themselves in this
way.
A group of people made a circle around the Pentagon. [VERB noun]
3. link verb
You can use make to say what two numbers add up to.
Four twos make eight. [VERB amount]
He is adding three aircraft carriers–that makes six in all. [VERB amount]
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
1. verb
If someone makes a particular team or makes a particular high position, they do so well that they are put in that team or get
that position.
The athletes are just happy to make the British team. [VERB noun]
He knew he was never going to make director. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If you make a place in or by a particular time, you get there in or by that time, often with
some difficulty.
They were trying to make New Orleans by nightfall. [VERB noun preposition]
3.
See to make it
4.
See to make it
5.
See to make it
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
1. verb
All I want to know is how many T-shirts Jim Martin has got. I make it three. [VERB noun]
I make the total for the year £69,599. [V n amount]
2. verb
I make it nearly 9.30. [VERB noun noun]
'What time d'you make it?'—'Thirteen past.' [VERB noun noun]
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense makes
, present participle making
, past tense, past participle made
Phrasal verbs:
See make for
See make of
See make off
See make off with
See make out
See make over
See make up
See make up for
See make up to
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
make
Word Frequency
make in British English 1
verbWord forms: makes, making or made (mainly tr)
1.
to bring into being by shaping, changing, or combining materials, ideas, etc; form
or fashion; create
to make a chair from bits of wood
make a poem
2.
to draw up, establish, or form
to make a decision
make one's will
3.
to cause to exist, bring about, or produce
don't make a noise
6.
to constitute
one swallow doesn't make a summer
7. (also intr)
to come or cause to come into a specified state or condition
to make merry
make someone happy
8. (copula)
to be or become through development
he will make a good teacher
10.
to amount to
twelve inches make a foot
11.
to be part of or a member of
did she make one of the party?
12.
to serve as or be suitable for
that piece of cloth will make a coat
13.
to prepare or put into a fit condition for use
to make a bed
14.
to be the essential element in or part of
charm makes a good salesperson
15.
to carry out, effect, or do
to make a gesture
16. (intr; foll by to, as if to, or as though to)
to act with the intention or with a show of doing something
they made to go out
he made as if to lock the door
17.
to use for a specified purpose
I will make this town my base
22.
to engage in
make love not war
26. cricket
to score (runs)
30. informal
to gain a place or position on or in
to make the headlines
make the first team
31. informal
to achieve the rank of
33. See be made up
34. See make a book
35. See make a day of it
36. See make a night of it
37. See make do
38. See make eyes at
39. See make good
40. See make heavy weather
41. See make heavy weather of something
42. See make it
43. See make like
44. See make love
45. See make love to someone
46. See make or break
47. See make time
48. See make water
noun
50.
the manner or way in which something is made
51.
disposition or character; make-up
52.
the act or process of making
53.
the amount or number made
54. bridge
the contract to be played
55. cards
a player's turn to shuffle
56. See on the make
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
makable (ˈmakable) adjective
Word origin
Old English macian; related to Old Frisian makia to construct, Dutch maken, German machen to make
Word Frequency
make in American English 1
verb transitiveWord forms: made or ˈmaking
1.
to bring into being
; specif.,a.
to form by shaping or putting parts or ingredients together, physically or mentally; build, construct, fabricate, fashion, create, compose, devise, formulate, etc.
c.
to cause; bring about; produce
to make corrections
d.
to bring together materials for and start
to make a fire
e.
to cause to be available; provide
to make change, to make room
2.
to bring into a specified condition
; specif.,
b.
, sometimes used reflexively to cause to seem
the portrait makes him an old man
make yourself comfortable
4.
a.
to amount to; form as a total
two pints make a quart
6.
to set up; establish
to make rules
7.
a.
to get or acquire, as by one's behavior
to make friends
8.
to cause the success of
that venture made her
9.
to understand or regard as the meaning (of)
what do you make of the poem?
11.
b.
to engage in; carry on
to make war
12.
to deliver (a speech) or utter ( remarks, etc.)
13.
to cause or force
followed by an infinitive without to make the machine work, make him behave
14.
a.
to arrive at; reach
the ship made port
b.
to arrive at in time
to make a train
15.
to go or travel; traverse
to make 500 miles the first day, to make 90 miles an hour
16. Informal
to succeed in getting membership in, a position on, the status of, recognition in, etc.
to make the team, to make the headlines
19. Slang
usually used as a participial adj.
a made man
21. Cards
a.
to win (tricks) or fulfill (one's bid)
b.
to take a trick with (a specified card)
c.
to shuffle (the cards)
22. Electricity
to close (a circuit); effect (a contact)
23. Games
to score; get as a score
24. Law
to perform, execute, or sign (a legal document)
verb intransitive
25.
to start (to do something)
she made to go
26.
to tend, extend, or point (to, toward, etc.)
27.
to behave in a specified manner
with a following adjective make bold, make merry, etc.
28.
to cause something to be in a specified condition
make ready, make fast, etc.
29.
30.
to mature
said of hay, etc. noun
▶ USAGE: Make is widely and variously used in idiomatic phrases, many of which are entered in this
dictionary under the key word, as make fun of, make the grade and make hay31.
the act or process of making; esp., manufacture
32.
the amount made; output, esp. of manufacture
33.
the way in which something is made; style; build
34.
type, sort, or brand
with reference to the maker or the place, time, etc. of making a foreign make of car
35.
disposition; character; nature
a man of this make
36. Slang
the act or process of identifying a person, taking fingerprints, etc. in police work
run a make on the suspect
37. Electricity
the closing of a circuit by making contact
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: make2 is the general term meaning to bring into being and may imply a producing of something
physically or mentally; , form suggests a definite contour, structure, or design in the thing made; , shape suggests the imparting of a specific form as by molding, cutting, hammering, etc.;
, fashion implies inventiveness, cleverness of design, the use of skill, etc.; , construct implies a putting of parts together systematically according to some design; , manufacture implies a producing from raw materials, now especially by machinery and on a large
scale; , fabricate implies a building or manufacturing, often by assembling standardized parts, and,
in extended use, connotes fictitious inventionWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
makable (ˈmakable)
adjective
Word origin
ME maken < OE macian, akin to Ger machen < IE base *maĝ-, to knead, press, stretch > mason, Gr magis, kneaded mass, paste, dough, mageus, kneader
Word Frequency
make in American English 2
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
make in American English 1
(meik) (verb made, making)
transitive verb
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
4.
to appoint or name
The President made her his special envoy
6.
to bring into a certain form
to make bricks out of clay
8.
to cause, induce, or compel
to make a horse jump a barrier
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
13.
to do; effect
to make a bargain
15.
to become by development; prove to be
You'll make a good lawyer
17. (often fol. by of)
to judge or interpret, as to the truth, nature, meaning, etc
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
26.
to go or travel at a particular speed
to make 60 miles an hour
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
32.
The novel made the bestseller list
He made the all-American team three years in a row
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. (in South Midland and Southern US dialect)
to plant and cultivate or produce (a crop)
He makes some of the best corn in the country
intransitive verb
39.
to cause oneself, or something understood, to be as specified
to make sure
40. (usually fol. by an adjective)
to show oneself to be or seem in action or behavior
to make merry
41.
to be made, as specified
This fabric makes up into beautiful drapes
43.
to rise, as the tide or water in a ship
44. (in South Midland and Southern US dialect; of a crop)
to grow, develop, or mature
It looks like the corn's going to make pretty good this year
45. See make a play for
46. See make as if
47. See make away with
48. See make believe
49. See make bold
50. See make book
51. See make colors
52. See make do
53. See make down
54. See make fast
55. See make for
56. See make good
57. See make heavy weather
58. See make it
59. See make it so
60. See make like
61. See make off
62. See make off with
63. See make on
64. See make one's manners
65. See make out
66. See make over
67. See make sail
68. See make shut
69. See make time
70. See make up
71. See make up to
72. See make water
73. See make with
noun
74.
the style or manner in which something is made; form; build
76.
disposition; character; nature
77.
the act or process of making
78.
quantity made; output
80. Electricity
the closing of an electric circuit
82. slang
identifying information about a person or thing from police records
He radioed headquarters for a make on the car's license plate
83. See on the make
84. See put the make on
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
makable adjective
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME maken, OE macian; c. LG, D maken, G machen]Word Frequency
make in American English 2
(meik)
noun Brit dialect
1.
a peer or equal
2.
a spouse, mate, consort, or lover
3.
a friend; companion
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Examples of 'make' in a sentence
make
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Quotations
God has given you one face, and you make yourselves anotherHamlet
Trends of
make
View usage for:
In other languages
make
British English: make
/meɪk/ NOUN
The make of a product is the name of the company that made it.
...a certain make of watch.
- American English: brand /ˈbrænd/
- Arabic: مَاركَةٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: marca
- Chinese: 制造
- Croatian: marka
- Czech: značka výrobce
- Danish: mærke
- Dutch: model
- European Spanish: marca
- Finnish: tuotemerkki
- French: marque mode
- German: Machart
- Greek: μάρκα
- Italian: fattura
- Japanese: ･･･製
- Korean: 제품
- Norwegian: merke
- Polish: marka
- European Portuguese: marca
- Romanian: marcă
- Russian: марка brand
- Latin American Spanish: fabricación
- Swedish: märke
- Thai: รูปแบบการผลิต, วิธีการผลิต, รูปแบบการสร้าง
- Turkish: yapım
- Ukrainian: марка
- Vietnamese: nhãn hiệu
British English: make
/meɪk/ VERB
carry out You can use make to show that a person does or says something.
He made a phone call.
- American English: make /ˈmeɪk/
- Arabic: يَصْنَع
- Brazilian Portuguese: fazer
- Chinese: 发表
- Croatian: učiniti
- Czech: vyrobit
- Danish: lave
- Dutch: maken
- European Spanish: hacer
- Finnish: tehdä valmistaa
- French: fabriquer
- German: machen
- Greek: κατασκευάζω
- Italian: fare
- Japanese: 作る
- Korean: (…을) 하다
- Norwegian: lage
- Polish: zrobić
- European Portuguese: fazer
- Romanian: a face
- Russian: изготавливать
- Latin American Spanish: hacer
- Swedish: göra
- Thai: ทำ, ผลิต, สร้าง
- Turkish: yapmak
- Ukrainian: робити
- Vietnamese: chế tạo
British English: make
/meɪk/ VERB
create If you make something, you put it together or build it from other things.
She makes all her own clothes.
- American English: make /ˈmeɪk/
- Arabic: يَصْنَعُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: fazer
- Chinese: 做
- Croatian: stvarati
- Czech: udělatvyrobit
- Danish: lave
- Dutch: maken
- European Spanish: hacer
- Finnish: valmistaa
- French: faire
- German: machen
- Greek: φτιάχνω
- Italian: fare
- Japanese: ･･･を作る
- Korean: 만들다
- Norwegian: lage
- Polish: robić
- European Portuguese: fazer
- Romanian: a confecționa
- Russian: сделать
- Latin American Spanish: fabricar
- Swedish: göra
- Thai: ทำ, สร้าง
- Turkish: yapmak
- Ukrainian: створювати
- Vietnamese: tạo ra
British English: make
/meɪk/ VERB
force If you make a person do something, they must do it.
Mum made me clean the bathroom.
- American English: make /ˈmeɪk/
- Arabic: يَجْعَلُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: obrigar
- Chinese: 使
- Croatian: natjerati
- Czech: přimětkoho něco udělat
- Danish: tvang
- Dutch: dwingen
- European Spanish: obligar
- Finnish: pakottaa
- French: faire inchoatif
- German: zwingen
- Greek: υποχρεώνω
- Italian: fare
- Japanese: させる
- Korean: 시키다
- Norwegian: tvinge
- Polish: zmusić
- European Portuguese: obrigar
- Romanian: a obliga
- Russian: заставить
- Latin American Spanish: hacer pedir a alguien que haga algo
- Swedish: få någon att
- Thai: สั่งให้ทำ
- Turkish: yaptırmak
- Ukrainian: змушувати
- Vietnamese: khiến ai đó
Browse alphabetically
make
Source
Definition of make from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
cookie or cake?
Which version is correct?
foot or hand?
Which version is correct?
hair or nose?
Which version is correct?
boots or shoe?
Which version is correct?
horse or mule?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
desertification
Desertification is the process by which a piece of land becomes dry , empty , and unsuitable for growing trees or crops on.
Latest Word Submissions
Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night
On the night of 4 November 1605 Guy Fawkes, a Catholic, was discovered in an undercroft of the House of Lords guarding a hoard of gunpowder intended to explode the following day at the state opening of Parliament and thereby assassinate the Protestant King James I and annihilate the government.
Read more
COP26
With COP26 currently underway in Glasgow, we look at the large and constantly evolving lexicon of climate change.
Read more
Trick or treat? The eerie etymology behind popular Halloween words
Spooky season has arrived once more! Pumpkins are out in full force and this year, we decided to revisit some of our gruesome lexical offerings with a brand-new look into some of the most popular words and phrases associated with the scariest time of year.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
ashamed or embarrassed?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
embarrassed
ashamed
He seemed by the question.
able or capable?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
capable
able
He's of loyalty.
allow or let?
Which version is correct?
afraid or frightened?
Which version is correct?
beside or besides?
Which version is correct?
Your score: