make do

1 of 2

phrase

: to get along or manage with the means at hand

will just have to make do with what we've got

make-do

2 of 2

adjective

ˈmāk-ˈdü 

: makeshift

make-do noun

Examples of make do in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Mint will make do with only four hours of sunlight per day and prefers to stay slightly moist. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

Especially once they’re pushed out of their family home and must make do in a cottage in Devonshire, Snell wanted to show how the girls borrow from each other, adapt odds and ends, and don’t always put outfits together to match. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

Adjective

While recent headlines around the state of the UK art market have typically painted a gloomy picture, on the ground, a palpable buoyancy — or make-do optimism, even — can be felt. — Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

The foundational text of Parton’s career, this 1971 single lovingly details her mother’s make-do resilience, stitching a fall coat from scraps of cloth in the spirit of a beloved Bible story. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Phrase

1927, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for make do

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue