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 check is supposed to be made out to the Secretary of the State Election Board, but not to him personally, Ziriax said.
—
Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 19 Mar. 2026
There’s something new at work — a cultural hairpin turn — in the way that Apple is made out to be a figure of commanding but toxic damage.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The iconic fashion designer joined fellow revelers at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in a plunging slip dress that was made out of nothing but crystals and sheer mesh.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Marshall couldn't make out what was inside the bag.
—Sydney Page The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make out
Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 19 Mar. 2026
There’s something new at work — a cultural hairpin turn — in the way that Apple is made out to be a figure of commanding but toxic damage.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
The iconic fashion designer joined fellow revelers at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in a plunging slip dress that was made out of nothing but crystals and sheer mesh.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
Marshall couldn't make out what was inside the bag.
—Sydney Page The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
-
As an Iranian American and a university professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, my way of coping is not to deny the harm America has done to my country and region.—
Mehrnoush Soroush,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Principal Bryan Emmert said Fremont High School does offer resources for students struggling to cope with any issue.—
Abigail Min,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
New transparency tools aim to help travelers understand disruptions and reduce frustration during delays and cancellations.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And to have a guy like him who understands what the competition looks like on the floor, but is still here to kind of enhance the environment, help celebrate his teammates, give his teammates wisdom.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thus ensnared in a fiction of his making, the narrator takes his phone out and pretends to press Record.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And in Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Hurt played one of the New York socialites who falls into the web of deceit created by a charismatic young man (Will Smith) pretending to be the son of Sidney Poitier.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked deeper into nature than its older sibling in Windham, Eastwind Oliverea Valley derives its special sauce from its harmony with its surroundings, complementing rather than taking away from the landscape.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And sources of public funding can be brutally regressive, derived from taxes on items like lottery tickets, which are bought disproportionately by the poor.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The fact that the President is now signalling a messy retreat has nothing to do with insufficient lethality and everything to do with politics—in particular, the alarm in the global oil markets and the American public’s widespread opposition to the war.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
If a friend volunteers input, accept their assistance with gratitude rather than doing everything alone for the best results.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But Bella knows academic success isn't enough on its own.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is still a lot of uncertainty, like whether or not to prune this season or decide to take out more vines.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
On April 7, voters will decide the future of 24 Independence School District elementary, middle and high school buildings.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Players will have to decipher a puzzle with clues from another player.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
