variants
or less commonly make-up
plural makeups also make-ups
1
a
: the way in which the parts or ingredients of something are put together : composition
the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood
b
: physical, mental, and moral constitution
His daring attitude toward risks is a major part of his makeup.
2
a
: the operation of making up especially pages for printing
b
: design or layout of printed matter
3
a(1)
: cosmetics (such as lipstick, mascara, and eye shadow) used to color and beautify the face
(2)
: a cosmetic applied to other parts of the body
leg makeup for a tanned appearance
b
: materials (such as wigs and cosmetics) used in making up or in special costuming (as for a play)
4
: replacement
specifically
: material added (as in a manufacturing process) to replace material that has been used up
makeup water
5
: something that makes up for a previous postponement, omission, failure, or deficiency
a makeup exam
made up; making up; makes up
1
a
: to form by fitting together or assembling
make up a train of cars
b
: to arrange typeset matter in (columns or pages) for printing
2
a
: to combine to produce (a sum or whole)
b
: constitute, compose
10 chapters make up this volume
3
a
: to compensate for (something, such as a deficiency or omission)
make up the difference in lost pay
b
: to do or take in order to correct an omission
make up a history exam
5
: to wrap or fasten up
make the books up into a parcel
6
a
: to prepare in physical appearance for a role
b
: to apply cosmetics to
1
: to become reconciled
quarreled but later made up
2
a
: to act ingratiatingly and flatteringly
made up to his aunt for a new bicycle
b
: to make advances : court
3
: compensate
make up for lost time
4
a
: to put on costumes or makeup (as for a play)
b
: to apply cosmetics
Synonyms
Examples of makeup in a Sentence
Noun
His daring attitude toward risks is a major part of his makeup.
She put on some makeup before the party.
She applied her makeup lightly.
She's too young to wear makeup.
put on makeup for a play
I didn't recognize him when he was in his theatrical makeup.
Verb
the book is made up of 20 chapters
she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project
Recent Examples on the Web
Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
The plaintiffs argued that the city violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment when commissioners fixated on preserving the ethnic makeup of the commission by using racial quotas to draw the voting map, packing Hispanic and Black voters into districts.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
While social media has had plenty to say about mixing and mingling for romantic purposes at the no-frills but delicious restaurant, that’s where celebrity makeup artist Lola and the man who would be her husband, George, had their first date.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
If all that counts is inward essence, what the hell were those teams of makeup artists, coiffeurs, and cinematographers employed by the major studios, in the golden age, doing all day?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Her makeup artist Bex Pichelmann was equally obsessed with her client’s makeover.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Ahead, see Glamour editors’ and makeup artists’ favorite liquid blush picks.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
That can give whoever holds the position great influence over the makeup of school boards countywide.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival, author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award, and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
Product from Mexico, the United States and Canada now makes up at least 70% of the meth found in Australia, police have estimated.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
In fact, middle managers—defined as nonexecutives who oversee employees—made up almost a third of layoffs last year.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
Jews make up 10% of the undergraduate student population and 53% of Harvard’s graduate student body.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The main drivers of inflation — housing and energy costs — told a familiar story in March, and together made up more than half of the month-to-month increase for all of the items that go into the consumer price index.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Instead of Gaudi 2’s single chip, Gaudi 3 is made up of two identical silicon dies joined by a high-bandwidth connection.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2024
Life is made up of dualities: Good, bad; day, night; Sandy at the start of Grease, Sandy at the end.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo and Jack O’Connell, among others, make up the heady call sheet.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
In addition to Depp, the film stars Bill Skarsgård, trading in Pennywise’s clown makeup for Count Orlock’s razor-sharp fangs (he’s glimpsed from the back, hunching over in a bat-like crouch), as well as Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
The plaintiffs argued that the city violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment when commissioners fixated on preserving the ethnic makeup of the commission by using racial quotas to draw the voting map, packing Hispanic and Black voters into districts.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
While social media has had plenty to say about mixing and mingling for romantic purposes at the no-frills but delicious restaurant, that’s where celebrity makeup artist Lola and the man who would be her husband, George, had their first date.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
If all that counts is inward essence, what the hell were those teams of makeup artists, coiffeurs, and cinematographers employed by the major studios, in the golden age, doing all day?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Her makeup artist Bex Pichelmann was equally obsessed with her client’s makeover.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Ahead, see Glamour editors’ and makeup artists’ favorite liquid blush picks.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
That can give whoever holds the position great influence over the makeup of school boards countywide.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival, author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award, and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Verb
Is there any sense of wanting to make up for quote–unquote lost time?
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
Product from Mexico, the United States and Canada now makes up at least 70% of the meth found in Australia, police have estimated.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
In fact, middle managers—defined as nonexecutives who oversee employees—made up almost a third of layoffs last year.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
Jews make up 10% of the undergraduate student population and 53% of Harvard’s graduate student body.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The main drivers of inflation — housing and energy costs — told a familiar story in March, and together made up more than half of the month-to-month increase for all of the items that go into the consumer price index.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Instead of Gaudi 2’s single chip, Gaudi 3 is made up of two identical silicon dies joined by a high-bandwidth connection.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2024
Life is made up of dualities: Good, bad; day, night; Sandy at the start of Grease, Sandy at the end.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo and Jack O’Connell, among others, make up the heady call sheet.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'makeup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near makeup
Cite this Entry
“Makeup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/makeup. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
makeup
1 of 2 noun
make·up
ˈmā-ˌkəp 
1
: the way the parts or elements of something are put together : composition
the makeup of a newspaper
2
a
: any of various cosmetics (as lipstick or powder)
b
: materials (as wigs or cosmetics) used in making up
put on makeup for a play
too young to wear makeup
make up
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)mā-ˈkəp
1
: to form by fitting together or assembling
make up a suit
make up a train
2
: compose sense 1b
chapters make up a book
3
: to make good for something lacking or for a loss or injury
4
: decide sense 3, settle
made up my mind to go
5
a
: to create from the imagination : invent
make up a story
b
: to set in order
rooms are made up daily
6
: to become friendly again
they fought and made up
7
a
: to put on costumes or makeup (as for a play)
made up as a clown
b
: to apply cosmetics to
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