make good

phrase

1

or make good on : to make valid or complete: such as

a

: to carry out successfully

made good their escape

made good on his promise

b

: indemnify

make good the loss

c

: to make up for (a deficiency)

made good previous neglect of his child

d

: prove

made good a charge

2

: to prove to be capable

also : succeed

The play made good at the box office.

Examples of make good in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But why are legislators not trying to get re-elected by making good policy? — Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

A little more than two years in at the coffee giant, Niccol has made good progress. — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

The Sox swept the Astros to advance to the ALDS, and Mattress Mack made good on his bet. — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Good fences might make good neighbors, as the old saying goes, but would a silk fence make a good fence? — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for make good

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood