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

Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. —Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Looking for meaningful ways to make a difference in the community but don't know where to start? —Arkansas Online, 15 May 2025

Keith Larson, at-large, who moved to Aurora from Geneva because of the city’s diversity and did what more should do – instead of complaining about how things are run, get involved to make a difference. —Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025

Small steps in your community can make a difference Growing up, at a distance That first Covid year was filled with mindfulness exercises in homeroom, encouragement to do yoga, meditate, reflect and journal in the morning announcements. —Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 2 May 2025

Rhymes for make a difference

• indifference