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
Betrayal beyond one’s control may involve situations like forgetting an important date due to stress or feeling overwhelmed, hurting others’ feelings unintentionally by making careless comments or blunders made out of misunderstanding rather than malice.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
On Tuesday at the Today show, Anderson and Neeson pretended to get caught making out on live TV as part of a bit.
—EW.com, 30 July 2025
Sugar was also used to prepare subtleties—edible sculptures made out of marzipan.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
The next morning, on Tuesday, July 29, Anderson and Neeson pretended to get caught making out on live TV for a funny moment while visiting the Today show together.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
On Tuesday at the Today show, Anderson and Neeson pretended to get caught making out on live TV as part of a bit.
—EW.com, 30 July 2025
Sugar was also used to prepare subtleties—edible sculptures made out of marzipan.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
The next morning, on Tuesday, July 29, Anderson and Neeson pretended to get caught making out on live TV for a funny moment while visiting the Today show together.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
-
Overwhelming feelings can lead to unhealthy spending habits as a way to cope or find relief, Baeckström said.—
Natalie Wu,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Tottenham’s squad struggled to cope with the demands of the Premier League and the Europa League last season.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trained to understand player context and urgency, these systems ensure that the support is fast, relevant and empathetic.—
Anees Ali Khan,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
This thoroughly readable book will help the reader understand how personal history, ancestry, and environment influence their money habits.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The scammer will pretend to be verified customers and leave reviews for the products that are delivered to unsuspecting residents.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The latest text message attacks making headlines (1,2,3) pretend to be from Amazon.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Our assessment derives from a thorough analysis of Fortinet’s valuation, contrasting its current condition with its historical financial performance and operational metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
In 2024, Dior’s owner LVMH (which does not break out sales by brand) brought in €84.7 billion (about $98 billion) in revenue — 25% of which was derived from America, its second largest market alongside Europe, and after Asia.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Russia has a 50-year goal, to re-unite parts of the old Soviet Union; Ukraine has a more immediate goal, to stop the war and not give up any territory to do so.—
Richard Stengel,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
-
In 2024-2025 the lodge stayed open for the winter, doing events like winemaker dinners.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Here's what to know about Trump's approval rating, including how they are decided and how Trump's ratings compare with his first term and past presidents.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Darcy Miller, known on TikTok as @darcycass, received an urgent call shortly after selling her couch on Facebook Marketplace from the buyer.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Despite discussion on the law itself, the school board refrained from taking a stance for or against the proposal, instead deciding to seek guidance from Kentucky's attorney general on how best to enact policies to evaluate offers like the one from LifeWise.—
Keely Doll,
The Courier-Journal,
7 Aug. 2025
-
When those plans fell apart, White decided to go fishing anyway.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The article includes a fancy-looking formula central to the algorithm, but the formula is nearly impossible to decipher since the authors didn’t bother to explain half the symbols in it.—
Noah Giansiracusa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
-
We’re left to decipher the difference between fact and fiction.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share