Definition of 'make'

Word Frequency

make carrying out an action

(meɪk )

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. [Vas 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]

Synonyms: score, gain, amass, win More Synonyms of make

See to make do

See to make like sth/sb

More Synonyms of make

Word Frequency

make causing or changing

(meɪk )

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]

Synonyms: force, cause, press, compel More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: appoint, name, select, elect More Synonyms of make

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]

10.

See make something of yourself/your life

11. to make friends

Word Frequency

make creating or producing

(meɪk )

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]

Nissan now makes 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]

Synonyms: create, build, produce, manufacture More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: prepare, cook, put together, get ready More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: compile, write, produce, draft More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: enact, form, pass, establish More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: earn, get, gain, net More Synonyms of make

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.

brand

See on the make

Word Frequency

make link verb uses

(meɪk )

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]

Synonyms: be, become, form, represent More Synonyms of make

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]

Synonyms: amount to, total, constitute, add up to More Synonyms of make

Word Frequency

make achieving or reaching

(meɪk )

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]

Synonyms: gain a place in, achieve a place in, get into, attain a place in More Synonyms of make

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]

See to make it

Word Frequency

make stating an amount or time

(meɪk )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense makes , present participle making , past tense, past participle made

1. verb

You use make it when saying what you calculate or guess an amount to be.

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]

Synonyms: calculate, judge, estimate, determine More Synonyms of make

2. verb

You use make it when saying what time your watch says it is.

I make it nearly 9.30. [VERB noun noun]

'What time d'you make it?'—'Thirteen past.' [VERB noun noun]

Word Frequency

make phrasal verbs

(meɪk )

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

Video: pronunciation of
make

make in British English 1

(meɪk )

verbWord forms: makes, making or made (mainly tr)

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

to draw up, establish, or form

to make a decision

make one's will

to cause to exist, bring about, or produce

don't make a noise

to cause, compel, or induce

please make him go away

to appoint or assign, as to a rank or position

they made her president

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

to cause or ensure the success of

your news has made my day

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

18.

to deliver or pronounce

to make a speech

19.

to judge, reckon, or give one's own opinion or information as to

what time do you make it?

20.

to cause to seem or represent as being

that furniture makes the room look dark

21.

to earn, acquire, or win for oneself

to make friends

make a fortune

22.

to engage in

make love not war

23.

to traverse or cover (distance) by travelling

we can make a hundred miles by nightfall

24.

to arrive in time for

he didn't make the first act of the play

25. cards

to win a trick with (a specified card)

to shuffle (the cards)

c. bridge

to fulfil (a contract) by winning the necessary number of tricks

26. cricket

to score (runs)

27. electronics

to close (a circuit) permitting a flow of current

Compare break (sense 44)

28. (intransitive)

to increase in depth

the water in the hold was making a foot a minute

29. (intransitive)

(of hay) to dry and mature

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

32. slang

to seduce

33. be made up

34. make a book

35. make a day of it

36. make a night of it

37. make do

38. make eyes at

39. make good

40. make heavy weather

41. make heavy weather of something

42. make it

43. make like

44. make love

45. make love to someone

46. make or break

47. make time

48. make water

noun

49.

brand, type, or style

what make of car is that?

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. on the make

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 British English 2

(meɪk )

noun archaic

a peer or consort

a mate or spouse

Derived forms

makeless (ˈmakeless)

adjective

Word origin

Old English gemaca mate; related to match1

Word Frequency

make in American English 1

(meɪk )

verb transitiveWord forms: made or ˈmaking

to bring into being

; specif.,

to form by shaping or putting parts or ingredients together, physically or mentally; build, construct, fabricate, fashion, create, compose, devise, formulate, etc.

to fit or destine, as if by fashioning

they were made for each other

to cause; bring about; produce

to make corrections

to bring together materials for and start

to make a fire

to cause to be available; provide

to make change, to make room

to present for consideration

to make a suggestion

to bring into a specified condition

; specif.,

to cause to be or become; specif., to elect or appoint

make her director

to cause to seem

the portrait makes him an old man

, sometimes used reflexively

make yourself comfortable

to prepare by arranging the sheets, blankets, etc.

said of a bed

to amount to; form as a total

two pints make a quart

to count as; constitute

this makes his fifth novel

to turn out to be; have, or prove to have, the essential qualities of

to make a fine leader

to set up; establish

to make rules

to get or acquire, as by one's behavior

to make friends

to get by earning, investing, etc.

to make a fortune

to cause the success of

that venture made her

to understand or regard as the meaning (of)

what do you make of the poem?

10.

to estimate to be; regard as

I make the distance about 500 miles

11.

to do or perform (a specified action); execute; accomplish

to make a quick turn

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.

to arrive at; reach

the ship made port

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

17. US, Slang

to succeed in becoming the lover of; seduce

18. Slang

to identify or recognize

19. Slang

to induct, for one's lifetime, into the Mafia

usually used as a participial adj.

a made man

20. Archaic

to shut (a door) tight

21. Cards

to win (tricks) or fulfill (one's bid)

to take a trick with (a specified card)

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.

to increase in depth or volume; rise or accumulate, as tide, snow, water in a ship, etc.

30.

to mature

said of hay, etc.

noun

31.

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

▶ 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 hay

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 invention

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

(meɪk )

noun Archaic

an equal; peer

a mate, companion, or spouse

Word origin

ME < OE gemaca (akin to Ger gemach, fitting, suitable) < base of macian: see make1

Examples of 'make' in a sentence
make

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

You know differences can be worked out without turning nasty and make good relationship choices.Yet it also makes elected politicians more popular.She quickly made a name for herself.You need to smooth it over and make sure that people can plan ahead.Looking at fish biology made a certain kind of evolutionary sense.In his second year at university he founded a company making customised gaming controllers.Yet you still make time for your own projects.Typically your termination payout will be made up of different elements.I get a lot of emails from people saying it has made them think about their contributions of plastic waste.No one else can make that choice for us.