make out

verb

made out; making out; makes out

transitive verb

1
: to complete (something, such as a printed form) by supplying required information
make out a check
2
: to find or grasp the meaning of
tried to make out what had really happened
3
: to form an opinion or idea about : conclude
how do you make that out
4
a
: to represent as being
made them out to be losers
b
: to pretend to be true
made out that he had never heard of me
5
: to represent or delineate in detail
6
: to see and identify with difficulty or effort : discern
make out a ship through the fog

intransitive verb

1
: get along, fare
how are you making out with the new job
2
a
: to engage in sexual intercourse

Examples of make out in a Sentence

we're not rich, but we're making out all right I can't quite make out what she is trying to say.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If ceramic cooking pots from different locations were made out of the same clay or decorated similarly, for instance, that would suggest there may have been social linkages between the communities that fashioned the pots. Ari Daniel, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025 The Serpentine tote and Serpenti Forever top-handle purse came dressed in its Calla pattern, this time executed in a textured weave that took between 16 and 41 hours to make out of up to 216 meters of raffia strands. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025 This sweatsuit is made out of thick, ultra-plush fleece fabric and features an oversized hooded sweatshirt with a large kangaroo pouch perfect for snuggling up in on flights. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 One can make out two seats in the pictures, so the car probably only accommodates two people, given its proportions. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for make out

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of make out was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20out. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

make out

verb
1
: to draw up in writing
make out a shopping list
2
: understand sense 1a
how do you make that out
3
: to represent as being
made her out a hero
4
: to see and identify with difficulty
make out a form in the fog
5
: succeed sense 2
make out well in business
6
: to engage in kissing and petting

More from Merriam-Webster on make out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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