1
as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
we're not rich, but we're making out all right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I can't quite make out what she is trying to say
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to pretend
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
he tried to make out that he didn't mind losing his job, but friends suspected he was desperately worried
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to derive
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
as best as I can make out, the police were informed of the incident but didn't think it was worth investigating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of make out
The Columbia Venturetrot Boot is made out of vulcanized rubber (hardened by heat and sulfur) for durability, and mud and gunk just slide right off of it.
—
Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
This outdoor dining spot made out of shipping containers is a top spot to visit to try everything from street tacos to lobster rolls.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Lego has been present at F1 races since last season, hosting in-person activities that have included functional, life-size cars and handcrafted trophies made out of bricks for podium finishers.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
The Alexanders made out on almost every side of the deal.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make out
Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
This outdoor dining spot made out of shipping containers is a top spot to visit to try everything from street tacos to lobster rolls.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
Lego has been present at F1 races since last season, hosting in-person activities that have included functional, life-size cars and handcrafted trophies made out of bricks for podium finishers.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
The Alexanders made out on almost every side of the deal.
—James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
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Hansen had been filming for years, often using the camera as a personal coping mechanism.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
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Tom Fletcher, the under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator for the United Nations, called for additional humanitarian aid to help Lebanon cope with airstrikes between Israel and Hezbollah.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The resulting insights are intended to help scientists understand how the ocean is changing and what those changes mean for the planet.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather called it a national security incident and said the national police force is working with Toronto police to understand the motive.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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City Hall needs to stop pretending the job is getting done and just do it.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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Scammers are sending emails to residents involved in planning, zoning or land-use applications pretending to be Forest Lake city planning and zoning staff members, the city said Friday.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Valerian supplements are derived from the roots of Valeriana officinalis, a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia that has also naturalized in northeastern America, according to the American Botanical Council (ABC).—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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They are derived from pop culture and sports.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So, this administration is doing it all backwards.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Experiencing that life cycle of knowing where my food comes from and watching my uncles do the butchering and then eating it the same day through slow roasting was really impactful for me as a kid.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With style, grace and a lot of love, the Lower Merion High School figure skating duo of Justin and Suri Lue know how to put on a cutting-edge show.—
Krystle Rich,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
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It is known as Obamacare, but only informally.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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David Nichols, a neuroscientist who is an expert on psychedelics, told me about a woman with alcohol-use disorder who realized during a psilocybin trip that her drinking was harming her children and decided to stop.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
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But deciding how that system should evolve, how data should flow, how governance must adapt, and how compliance risk is mitigated requires human reasoning.—
Milan Shetti,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Researchers using advanced imaging technology have deciphered 79 previously invisible inscriptions — including love notes, drawings of gladiators, and everyday messages — on a wall in the ancient city of Pompeii, offering a rare window into the lives of ordinary people nearly 2,000 years ago.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
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Using this method, researchers deciphered 79 additional inscriptions that had eluded scholars for generations.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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