make a difference

phrase

1

: to cause a change : to be important in some way

Cost can make a difference in deciding on a college.

Your help made a big difference.

It may not matter to you, but it makes a world of difference to me.

2

: to do something that is important : to do something that helps people or makes the world a better place

She says that she got into politics because she wanted to make a difference.

Examples of make a difference in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But even a couple of changes could potentially make a difference. — New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2026

That’s where evacuation drills, like the one Spokane carried out just three months before the destructive wildfires, can make a difference. — Ashley Bosa, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Research suggests that even shorter experiments can make a difference. — Bryce Jenkins, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Volunteering as a mentor or tutor is a powerful way to make a difference while forming meaningful, one-on-one connections. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for make a difference

• indifference