make a difference
idiom
1
: to cause a change : to be important in some way
Cost can make a difference in deciding on a college.
Your help made a big difference.
It may not matter to you, but it makes a world of difference to me.
2
: to do something that is important : to do something that helps people or makes the world a better place
She says that she got into politics because she wanted to make a difference.
Examples of make a difference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her experience with her caseworker pushed her to make a difference for other parents.
—
Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Feb. 2026
Eating even a small amount can be fatal, and experts warn that a mushroom's color is not a reliable way of detecting its toxicity, and whether the death cap variety is raw, dried or cooked does not make a difference.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Presentation can make a difference, Polman said.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Eating even a small amount can be fatal, and experts warn that a mushroom's color is not a reliable way of detecting its toxicity, and whether the death cap variety is raw, dried or cooked does not make a difference.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make a difference
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Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Feb. 2026
Eating even a small amount can be fatal, and experts warn that a mushroom's color is not a reliable way of detecting its toxicity, and whether the death cap variety is raw, dried or cooked does not make a difference.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Presentation can make a difference, Polman said.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Eating even a small amount can be fatal, and experts warn that a mushroom's color is not a reliable way of detecting its toxicity, and whether the death cap variety is raw, dried or cooked does not make a difference.
—CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make a difference
Cite this Entry
“Make a difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20difference. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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