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 If a blue wave does not materialize and the race for the House majority narrows, how each party makes out could take longer to ascertain. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026 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

An event can cause great pain to one person while another copes with it much better.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of copes

Verb

Directed by Kim Han-gyul, the film is an adaptation of 2012 Swedish film Cockpit about a pilot who pretends to be his own younger sister after being fired from his job.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Everyone pretends the films were chosen purely on merit, but the slate often reads Hollywood with a lanyard and a conscience.

— Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretends

Verb

Credibility test Sports betting is by far the top revenue driver for prediction markets, but their original purpose derives from forecasting elections.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026
The best, the least mediocre, unfortunately, is Tadao Ando, the better of whose work derives from Kahn, the plain modular rectangles made of concrete framed by verticals and, less clear even in Kahn, the geometric cuts and sections.

— Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of derives

Verb

California Surfaces does mostly new homes and commercial jobs such as airports and hospitals.

— The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
The robot does the physical work while a person controls its movements from a safer location.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

Additional pressures In reaching her own historic milestone as the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft, Proctor understands that a historic moment like this carries not just incredible significance but a fair amount of personal pressure as well.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Still, Taiwan understands Washington’s determination to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and is willing to support that effort.

— LIN CHIA-LUNG, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026