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

His friend, Thomas Shapiro, also knows exactly what Klee is going through.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
At Café Corazón, being a community space extends to what happens when an employee is harassed and whether the staff knows what to do if immigration officers come through the door.

— Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of knows

Verb

Boeing, for example, derives substantial revenue from its commercial aviation business, meaning separate economic conditions can have just as much impact on its stock as Pentagon spending.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 July 2026
The filing emphasizes that Rodríguez’s immunity derives solely from her current status as Venezuela’s head of state and does not constitute a judgment on the merits of the allegations against her.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of derives

Verb

This matching set from Amazon does exactly that, featuring a flattering high neckline and breezy cropped pants that are polished enough to wear straight from the airport to your destination.

— Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
Now, a law that does a lot of good for individual patients could wind up raising costs for everyone.

— Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

Nolan understands how to make popular entertainment that can appeal to and convey its ideas to millions and millions of people.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
Rather than treating those tensions as problems to be solved, Scoot understands that the future of luxury depends on balancing them, rather than choosing between them.

— Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026