MAKES OUT Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

makes out

verb

present tense third-person singular of make out

as in copes

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

as in knows

to have a clear idea of I can't quite make out what she is trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pretends

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

as in derives

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 makes out The contemporary media environment makes out-and-out suppression of a book difficult. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026 Even Fraser makes out with Rainbeau and Damo. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for makes out

Verb

Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.

— Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Gemini copes through logic and distraction, while Pisces feels everything at once.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026

Definition of copes

Verb

Defensive lineman Zach Sieler knows a little something about that.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Brown, who was the head coach at Troy from 2015 to 2018 and West Virginia from 2019-2024, at least knows the realities of coaching a Group of Six program.

— Mac Engel September 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of knows

Verb

A great deal of the movie’s power derives from its subtle — and some not-so-subtle — variations on the Finney novel and subsequent films.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
In those situations, advice derives much of its value from trust, accountability and experience.

— Alex Shahidi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of derives

Verb

So does Frédéric Fontang, who coaches Jiří Lehečka, and Michael Russell, who coaches Taylor Fritz, and Jamie Delgado, who coaches Grigor Dimitrov.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The best form of flattery is imitation, and Robert Pattinson does an incredible impression of Chris Hansen for A24’s new movie, Primetime.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

On Friday, Hassett said that the administration understands the pressure that rising energy prices puts on consumers.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Senior kicker Nate McCashland understands what the Goggins family is going through, with his younger brother having leukemia at a young age, and talked about how inspiring Heston is.

— Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of understands

Verb

She is involved in a bus accident that results in a fatality and, with the crusading passion that so many people felt after 9/11, decides to get involved as a witness and truth-teller.

— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The Oconomowoc Area School District will align its decision on Flock cameras with whatever the City of Oconomowoc decides regarding its own use of the cameras.

— Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

Moore breathes life into Mona, but manages to intertwine a sense of entitlement that nods to her former life as traditional housewife.

— Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
Benkert manages dozens of properties in Kauai and has boarded up two houses on the western side of the island.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026