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
This versatile piece is made out of Spanx’s ultra-drapey fabric.
—
Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Things get heated on the set inside EW's New York City studio, where Vita and Athena settled the rumors and decided to make out in the middle of the conversation.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
When a spotlight cast their shadows against the screen, viewers could make out the vague silhouettes of drums, cymbals, and tambourines, merged to form what looked like a hybrid creature.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Shop for earrings that are made out of lightweight materials or that are hollow, but are still large and make a dramatic statement.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Things get heated on the set inside EW's New York City studio, where Vita and Athena settled the rumors and decided to make out in the middle of the conversation.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
When a spotlight cast their shadows against the screen, viewers could make out the vague silhouettes of drums, cymbals, and tambourines, merged to form what looked like a hybrid creature.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Shop for earrings that are made out of lightweight materials or that are hollow, but are still large and make a dramatic statement.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
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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
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Even though just three can alert to an emergency, many more are needed to understand what is behind those emergencies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
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Those specifics aside, more stunningly, researchers discovered that these brave, early explorers of new worlds demonstrated a different way of moving than had been previously understood.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To pretend as if everyone doesn’t recognize him.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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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
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At the core of this approach is a carbon shell derived from covalent organic frameworks (COFs).—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
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Skinny Pedro’s obsession might therefore derive from some sort of insanity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Once that’s done and completely turned off, use a small brush to clean around the disposal and inside it.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Jan. 2026
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Warriors coach Steve Kerr spent most of Thursday’s pregame press conference doing his best to downplay multiple reports that Jonathan Kuminga requested a trade away from Golden State.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Peaceful but active, a place where everyone knows everyone and, mostly, everyone cares for everyone else.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
All of these parks have been known to their communities for their criminal activity and for those of us who grew up playing at these parks, there was never a hint that life could be otherwise.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This past Christmas, as a meaningful and nostalgic compromise, the McAlarneys and a group of other parents from their daughter Maddie's second-grade class all decided to get their children Tin Can landline phones for Christmas.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Shanahan and Fangio are considered some of the best offensive and defensive play callers in the sport, and the matchup could decide who moves on to the divisional round.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 20 Jan. 2026.
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