Definition of make
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material : fashion make a dress
b : to lay out and construct
make a road
2 : to put together from components : constitute houses made of stone
3a : 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
5a : 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
7a : 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
9a : to set in order
make beds
c : to assemble and set alight the materials for (a fire)
d : to shuffle (a deck of cards) in preparation for dealing
10a : 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
11a : 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
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
14a : 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
15a : 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
16a : 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
17a : to include in a route or itinerary make New York on the return trip —often used with itmake 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
20a : 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
22a : 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
24a : to cause (an electric circuit) to be completed
25 : to persuade to consent to sexual intercourse : seduce
1 : to have considerable effect
courtesy makes for safer driving
3a : 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
d slang : to play a part
—usually used with likemake 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 a face or make faces make a mountain out of a molehill make away with make believe make bold make book make common cause make do make ends meet make eyes make friends with make fun of make hay make head make it make light of make love make much of make nice make no bones make one's mark make public make sail make shift make sport of make the most of make the scene make time make tracks make use of make water make waves make way make with
: to distort one's features : grimace He made a face when I mentioned her name.
: to treat a trifling matter as of great importance
: to accept bets at calculated odds on all the entrants in a race or contest
a bartender who made book on the side
: to unite to achieve a shared goal
attempted to make common cause with the radicals in areas they could agree on
: to get along or manage with the means at hand
will just have to make do with what we've got
: to make one's means adequate to one's needs
did all they could do to make ends meet
: ogle Some guy was making eyes at her from across the room.
: to establish a friendship or friendly relations with
made friends with his new neighbors
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
: 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.
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
2a : 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
: to treat as of little account
all these problems are humorously described but never made light of— Susan Kenney
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
: to be deliberately and often insincerely polite and agreeable
must make nice to politicians they cannot stand— Ken Auletta
: to be straightforward, unhesitating, or sure
makes no bones about the seriousness of the matter
: to achieve success or fame
made his mark as a literary critic— Eric Partridge
: disclose None of those disagreements were made public.
1 : to set out on a voyage
The ship made sail at midnight.
2 : to raise or spread sail
: to manage with difficulty
We didn't have much money, but we made shift.
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
: to show or use to the best advantage
made the most of her talents
: 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
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
2 : to proceed at a walk or run
: to put to use : employ Students made good use of the new gymnasium.
: to create a stir or disturbance
continues to make waves with his unique, highly opinionated approach— Suzanne Biallot
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
nounDefinition of make (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : 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
3a : 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
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
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Time Traveler for make
The first known use of make was before the 12th century
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