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

Like the dishwasher, this is also a rarity in a tiny house, since most models make do with a shower alone. — Adam Williams july 14, New Atlas, 14 July 2026

Meanwhile, cars poured into congested surrounding streets, trying to make do with closures caused by the evacuation. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Adjective

Chess pie hails from an era of make-do pies. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026

Greenlanders’ self-reliance and make-do adaptation in its unforgiving climate further cement the comparison. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for make do

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