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

Researchers have used LLMs to engage with people who believe in conspiracy theories, and there is promising early evidence that generative AI may be able to make a difference in steering people away from such false beliefs. —John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025

But because breast cancer is a progressive disease, waiting to get a proper diagnosis can make a difference in symptoms—and outcomes. —Korin Miller, Flow Space, 7 Oct. 2025

Will this really make a difference to Disney’s bottom line? —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025

Even some Republicans began warning this summer that letting those tax credits lapse could be detrimental, with Republican pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward issuing a memo that cautioned an extension of the credits could make a difference in next year's midterm election. —Amanda Seitz, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for make a difference

• indifference