make
verbDefinition of make
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a
: 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
3a
: to bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material : fashion
make a dress
c
: to lay out and construct
make a road
4
: to frame or formulate in the mind
make plans
5
: to put together from components : constitute
houses made of stone
6a
: 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
7a
: to assemble and set alight the materials for (a fire)
b
: to set in order
make beds
d
: to shuffle (a deck of cards) in preparation for dealing
8
: to prepare (hay) by cutting, drying, and storing
9a
: to cause to be or become
made them happy makes it possible
b
: appoint
made him bishop
b
: to cause (an electric circuit) to be completed
12a
: 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
13a
: 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
14a
: 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
15
: to cause to act in a certain way : compel
make her give it back
16
: to cause or assure the success or prosperity of
can either make you or break you
17a
: to amount to in significance
makes a great difference
b
: to form the essential being of
clothes make the man
c
: to form by an assembling of individuals
make a quorum
d
: to count as
that makes the third time you've said it
18a
: 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 the rank of
make major
c
: to gain a place on or in
make the team the story made the papers
d
: to succeed in providing or obtaining
make bail
20
: to gain (something, such as money) by working, trading, or dealing
make a living
21a
: 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
22a
: to fulfill (a contract) in a card game
b
: to win a trick (see trick entry 1 sense 4) with (a card)
23a
: to include in a route or itinerary
make New York on the return trip
—often used with it make it to the party
b
: catch sense 6b
made the bus just in time
24
: to persuade to consent to sexual intercourse : seduce
25
: to provide the most enjoyable or satisfying experience of
meeting the star of the show really made our day
1
archaic
: to compose poetry
b
: to begin or seem to begin a certain action
made as though to hand it to me
c
: to act so as to be or to seem to be
make merry
d
slang
: to play a part
—usually used with like make 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 have considerable effect
courtesy makes for safer driving
7
: to undergo manufacture or processing
the silk makes up beautifully
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 good
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 grade
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
1
or make good on
: to make valid or complete: such as
a
: to make up for (a deficiency)
made good previous neglect of his child
b
: indemnify
make good the loss
c
: to carry out successfully
made good their escape made good on his promise
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
1a
: 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
2
: 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 raise or spread sail
2
: to set out on a voyage
The ship made sail at midnight.
: to manage with difficulty
We didn't have much money, but we made shift.
: 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
1
: 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
: the manner or style in which a thing is constructed
b
: brand sense 4a
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 the process of forming, growing, or improving
2
: in quest of a higher social or financial status
3
: in search of sexual adventure
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