made
ˈmād 
; making; makes
; making; makes
1
2
: to put together from components : constitute
houses made of stone
3
a
: to cause to happen to or be experienced by someone
made trouble for us
b
: to cause to exist, occur, or appear : create
make a disturbance
c
: to favor the growth or occurrence of
haste makes waste
d
: to fit, intend, or destine by or as if by creating
was made to be an actor
4
b
: to execute (see execute sense 2) in an appropriate manner
make a will
5
a
: to cause to be or become
made them happy
makes it possible
b
: appoint
made him bishop
6
: to cause to act in a certain way : compel
make her give it back
7
a
: to carry out (an action indicated or implied by the object)
make war
make a speech
make a detour
b
: to perform with a bodily movement
make a sweeping gesture
8
: to frame or formulate in the mind
make plans
9
10
a
: to amount to in significance
makes a great difference
b
: to count as
that makes the third time you've said it
c
: to form the essential being of
clothes make the man
d
: to form by an assembling of individuals
make a quorum
11
a
: to be or be capable of being changed or fashioned into
rags make the best paper
b
: to develop into
she will make a fine judge
c
12
13
: to gain (something, such as money) by working, trading, or dealing
make a living
14
a
: to act so as to earn or acquire
makes friends easily
makes poor grades
b
: to score in a game or sport
make a field goal
make a birdie
c
: to convert (a split) into a spare in bowling
d
: to succeed in holing
make a putt
15
a
: to conclude as to the nature or meaning of something
what do you make of this development?
b
: to regard as being
not the fool some make him
16
a
: to produce as a result of action, effort, or behavior with respect to something
make a mess of the job
tried to make a thorough job of it
b
archaic
: to turn into another language by translation
17
a
: to include in a route or itinerary
make New York on the return trip
—often used with itmake it to the party
b
: catch sense 6b
made the bus just in time
18
: to cause or assure the success or prosperity of
can either make you or break you
19
: to provide the most enjoyable or satisfying experience of
meeting the star of the show really made our day
20
a
: to compute or estimate to be
I make it 23 miles to the border from here.
b
: to form and hold in the mind
make no doubt of it
22
a
: to fulfill (a contract) in a card game
b
: to win a trick (see trick entry 1 sense 4) with (a card)
23
: to prepare (hay) by cutting, drying, and storing
24
a
: to cause (an electric circuit) to be completed
b
chiefly dialectal
: shut
… the doors are made against you.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare25
: to persuade to consent to sexual intercourse : seduce
1
: to have considerable effect
courtesy makes for safer driving
3
4
: to increase in height or size
the tide is making now
5
: to reach or extend in a certain direction
The forest makes up nearly to the snow line.
6
: to undergo manufacture or processing
the silk makes up beautifully
7
archaic
: to compose poetry
see also:
make a face
make a mountain out of a molehill
make away with
make believe
make bold
make book
make common cause
make do
make ends meet
make eyes
make friends with
make fun of
make good
make hay
make head
make it
make light of
make love
make much of
make nice
make no bones
make one's mark
make public
make sail
make shift
make sport of
make the grade
make the most of
make the scene
make time
make tracks
make use of
make water
make waves
make way
make with
1
a
b
: the manner or style in which a thing is constructed
2
: the physical, mental, or moral constitution of a person
men of his make are rare
3
a
: the action of producing or manufacturing
b
: the actual yield or amount produced over a specified period : output
4
: the act of shuffling cards
also
: turn to shuffle
see also:
Examples of make in a Sentence
Verb
He works in a factory that makes jet engines.
She made the curtains herself.
He collected wood to make a fire.
She used cheese and a mixture of other ingredients to make a delicious sauce.
Someone was making a disturbance.
The car's engine has been making a strange noise lately.
The rock made a dent in the car's fender.
I'm not trying to make trouble.
The typist made a mistake.
I called the doctor's office to make an appointment.
Noun
“What make of car is that?” “I think it's a Ford.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2026
In terms of making things happen, energy is an indispensable consideration.
—Big Think, 16 Feb. 2026
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The 183 shots he’s knocked down beyond the arc are second in the NBA only to Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who’s merely two makes ahead of Knueppel.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make
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.
Verb
Naked dressing also made its way via Tessa Thompson and Jenny Slate, in sheer black Collina Strada and Altuzarra, respectively, while award-winning Rose Byrne wore a midriff-baring Loewe gown with colorful ruffled shoulders and hips.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2026
In terms of making things happen, energy is an indispensable consideration.
—Big Think, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
The second half 3-point shooting was more even as TCU added five more while the Cowboys hit five, including two timely makes by Roy, who finished with 16 points.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The 183 shots he’s knocked down beyond the arc are second in the NBA only to Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who’s merely two makes ahead of Knueppel.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make
Cite this Entry
“Make.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
make
1 of 2 verb
made
ˈmād
; making
; making
1
a
: to begin or seem to begin an action
she made as if to go
b
: to act so as to appear
make merry
2
a
: to cause to exist or occur : create
make a noise
make trouble
b
: to create for some purpose or goal
she was made to be a surgeon
3
4
: to frame in the mind
make plans
5
: to put together from parts
houses made of stone
6
: to estimate to be : compute
I make it an even $5
8
: to cut and spread for drying
make hay
9
a
: to cause to be or become
made herself useful
b
: appoint
made him her assistant
10
a
: enact sense 1, establish
make laws
b
: to prepare in an appropriate manner
make a will
11
a
: understand sense 1a
unable to make anything of the story
b
: to regard as being : consider
he is not the fool you make him
12
: do entry 1 sense 1a, perform
make war
make a bow
13
: to produce or acquire by or as if by action or effort
made a mess of the job
make good money
make friends
14
: to force to act in some manner
made her return home
15
: to cause or assure the success of
the first case made the new lawyer
16
: to develop into
she will make a fine judge
17
a
: reach entry 1 sense 2c, attain
the ship makes port tonight
he made corporal in 10 months
they made it to the other side of the bridge
b
: to gain a place on or in
made the track team
the story made the papers
18
: catch entry 1 sense 7b
make the train
19
: to set out in pursuit
made after the fox
20
: to provide the most satisfying experience of
meeting the star of the show really made our day
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