make a difference
idiom
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
Even something as simple as taking a walk each day can make a difference.
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Rachael Zimlich, Bsn, Rn, Verywell Health, 10 July 2024
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Of course, free med school does make a difference for current students.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 10 July 2024
Meanwhile, Gilead is also funding a keynote event that unites some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names to discuss how Hollywood can make a difference on local, national and global levels.
—Spenser Mestel, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024
Going public might not make a difference, either, but Moulton seemed to think that the situation was grave enough to merit such a move on his part.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for make a difference 
Rachael Zimlich, Bsn, Rn, Verywell Health, 10 July 2024
Newsletters Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day
Privacy Policy
Of course, free med school does make a difference for current students.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 10 July 2024
Meanwhile, Gilead is also funding a keynote event that unites some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names to discuss how Hollywood can make a difference on local, national and global levels.
—Spenser Mestel, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024
Going public might not make a difference, either, but Moulton seemed to think that the situation was grave enough to merit such a move on his part.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for make a difference
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make a difference.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Make a difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20difference. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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