make the grade

phrase

Definition of make the gradenext
as in make it
to reach a desired level of accomplishment There were many applicants for the position, but only a few made the grade for an interview.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 the grade At National Mortgage Center, another DSCR lender, even buyers of short-term rentals can often be approved, and sometimes multifamily projects of more than five units make the grade. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026 Other names that made the grade in 2027 include Alphabet, Apple , Coca-Cola, Dynatrace , Eli Lilly , Equinix and Williams Companies . — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026 Another Spanish-language filmmaker, Chile’s Pablo Larraín, has arguably already made the grade. — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make the grade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make the grade
  1. make it
  2. get there
  3. get ahead
  4. get somewhere
  5. make good
  6. cut it
Phrase
  • But the council member nevertheless made it into the general election against Bass, and dominated their second debate, hosted in August by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Such encounters allow audiences to ask how an experience becomes a film, and what the filmmaker learns in making it.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of make it
Phrase
  • Blair Kerkhoff’s weekly report cards from The Kansas City Star tell the story of how the Chiefs got there.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Apollo got there first, but BlackRock just threw its hat in the ring.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of get there
Phrase
  • Workers expecting sticky inflation will ask for steeper pay raises to get ahead of any sticker shock.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • These can provide a way for low-income families to get ahead.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of get ahead
Phrase
  • After spending 26 years trying to get somewhere, this copy won’t be going back in the mail.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Some are predicting that Colorado defenseman Cale Makar will get somewhere in the $18 million to $20 million range before the start of September’s training camps.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 July 2026
Definition of get somewhere
Phrase
  • The answer is that making good policy is challenging, and the definition of good policy itself is not clear cut.
    — Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • A little more than two years in at the coffee giant, Niccol has made good progress.
    — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of make good
Phrase
  • Defender Lucas Bartlett picked up his second yellow card, leaving DC United a man down from the 68th minute on and New York (10-13-6) cut it to 2-1 three minutes later on Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's fifth goal.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But as Oliver pointed out, outright hate, and even threats to murder Liberty Biberty, just doesn’t cut it an era when negative engagement counts as engagement nonetheless.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of cut it

Browse Nearby Words

makes way
make the grade
make tracks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make the grade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20the%20grade. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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