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 Greater World Earthship Community near Taos, N.M., for example, features off-the-grid homes made out of recycled materials such as old tires.
—
Ryan Kellman, NPR, 10 June 2025
Apple says the lock screen will look like it’s made out of glass.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 9 June 2025
Shields, who also wore a diamond ring gifted to her by Michael Jackson, sported a bag made out of red curtains from Radio City Music Hall before it was renovated.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Soon after the fire, the insurer issued a settlement check, but it was made out to us and the mortgage lender.
—Robert Kaplan, Mercury News, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Ryan Kellman, NPR, 10 June 2025
Apple says the lock screen will look like it’s made out of glass.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 9 June 2025
Shields, who also wore a diamond ring gifted to her by Michael Jackson, sported a bag made out of red curtains from Radio City Music Hall before it was renovated.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Soon after the fire, the insurer issued a settlement check, but it was made out to us and the mortgage lender.
—Robert Kaplan, Mercury News, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
-
These symptoms weren’t only tied to how close someone was to the event but were strongly influenced by personal factors like pre-existing mental health issues and the coping strategies used in the early aftermath.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
As couples become closer through a shared reality, researchers also observed a greater sense of meaning in life, where individuals have a strong feeling of purpose, which research indicates can lead to better coping, greater happiness, and improved health outcomes.—
Beth Greenfield,
Fortune,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
Agnes understands that the world is not about good and evil and virtue and sin.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
23 June 2025
-
The mission’s detailed investigation of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Diversify vendors, build local backups and stop pretending just-in-time solutions work in a world that’s anything but stable.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
Let Lilian slow down and hesitate before issuing a greeting—Maureen would pretend to neither hear nor see her.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
Of that amount, $1.2 billion was derived from membership fees alone—accounting for nearly half of the operating profit, and primarily recurring.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
However, the original equation was derived from predominantly mammalian data.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Be sure to do the top mechanism of the blinds as well.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 June 2025
-
Nothing complicated, but something the whole family can do together.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration said the strikes destroyed Iran's nuclear infrastructure, but the full extent of the damage is not known.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
The parliamentarian determined that a provision to bar immigrants who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents from receiving food assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, should also be removed.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
Always, along the chain of hectic audience gossip, there was one person who decided to nip in the bud the talk about a too iconoclastic Beckett, and the relay to the estate was stopped; someone—more than one someone—who decided that Matthew and his crazy dreams were worth shielding.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
-
After a fun evening at the amusement park, the family decided to set Cade free.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 June 2025
Verb
-
In other words, there was too much atmospheric static to decipher information using classical techniques.—
Joanna Thompson,
Space.com,
21 June 2025
-
Mortgage professionals have mastered the art of deciphering hidden meanings, changing fears into wisdom and confusion into action.—
Neil Anders,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share