make sense
idiom
1
: to have a clear meaning : to be easy to understand
We read the recommendations and thought they made (perfect) sense.
The instructions don't make any sense (at all).
The instructions make no sense (at all).
You're not making much sense (to me).
2
: to be reasonable
It makes sense to leave early to avoid traffic.
It makes little/no sense to continue.
Why would he do such an awful thing? It makes no sense (to me).
Examples of make sense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
May and Tolle each make sense in the bullpen for Boston this postseason.
—
Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
If Ada County takes the lead, the development could end up more rural, Morales said by phone, which wouldn’t make sense because of the area’s proximity to downtown Boise.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2025
Dialogue is snappy and funny, complemented by an atmospheric and beautiful soundtrack, but its light-touch approach to storytelling somehow leaves you with more questions than answers, with twists and turns that either fail to add up or simply don’t make sense.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
As churches hold religious services this weekend, celebrants across the country are wrestling with how to help their congregations cope with and make sense of the tragedy at the Annunciation Church.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make sense
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Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
If Ada County takes the lead, the development could end up more rural, Morales said by phone, which wouldn’t make sense because of the area’s proximity to downtown Boise.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2025
Dialogue is snappy and funny, complemented by an atmospheric and beautiful soundtrack, but its light-touch approach to storytelling somehow leaves you with more questions than answers, with twists and turns that either fail to add up or simply don’t make sense.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
As churches hold religious services this weekend, celebrants across the country are wrestling with how to help their congregations cope with and make sense of the tragedy at the Annunciation Church.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make sense
Cite this Entry
“Make sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20sense. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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