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
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.
Recent Examples of make out
The two were speculated to be together when the two were making out on Perry’s yacht in August.
—
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2025
The past is always calling us back, but stories are made out of our journeys away from, as much as our returns to, that past.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The plush and lightweight knit of this sweater feels almost like it’s made out of merino wool, but without the price tag.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025
And don’t forget about the 900-pound Swarovski star that goes on top, made out of 3 million crystals.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2025
The past is always calling us back, but stories are made out of our journeys away from, as much as our returns to, that past.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The plush and lightweight knit of this sweater feels almost like it’s made out of merino wool, but without the price tag.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025
And don’t forget about the 900-pound Swarovski star that goes on top, made out of 3 million crystals.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
-
While stars and filmmakers this season tried to cope candidly with questioners, their impact was nonetheless inhibited by the rigors of Oscar rules.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While his Altadena home survived, Mark Franco continues to cope with living in a neighborhood forever changed by the Eaton Fire.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Adoption accelerates naturally when professionals understand that AI is amplifying their capabilities, rather than replacing them.—
Feon Ang,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Members of the new Agentic Futures Initiative believe lawmakers and officials need to better understand the technology to ensure new products remain interoperable across platforms, private — and secure.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To pretend as if everyone doesn’t recognize him.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Parents reported that their children loved playing with the original Nékojita FuFu, pretending to fan their faces and blow-dry their hair.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Part of this growing divide between the rich and the average worker can also be traced back to where these households derive their wealth—namely from their exposure to the booming stock market of 2025.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The brand’s very name, derived from a Sanskrit word, encapsulates Ghiya’s internationalism.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
By the end of this eerily melodic, strangely beautiful song about doing nothing, Tyler dreams wistfully of loitering in a parking lot.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That’s one of the most beautiful things about doing the play right now, that there are so many people coming who have never been to a play before, especially young people.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The employees are all members of a union local known as University Professional Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The account was not guarded by an extra layer of security known as multi-factor authentication.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Last year, the new group of commissioners decided to bring back Nadine Jarmon as the housing authority's executive director.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
-
El Dorado County voters also decided three Zone of Benefit tax measures on Tuesday.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So, the thinking went, every costume, prop, and line reading is there for a reason, infinite symbolism scattered across the frame for anyone determined enough to decipher it.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
-
By building out a picture of the whales’ health, habits and diet, researchers are deciphering the many ways humans impact their lives and guiding conservation actions that may mean life or death for the orcas.—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share