1
as in comprises
to be all the substance of
the book is made up of 20 chapters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in devises
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in builds
to form by putting together parts or materials
we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked "some assembly required"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 up
But a good start never really makes up for a bad ending.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Micron makes up its eastern edge, and the company likely would steer city planning for that area.
—Mark Dee
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
More expensive category two tickets makes up the rest of the 400-level and some 300-level sections.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Their back-and-forth makes up the core of the film, as twists, turns and discoveries gradually unfold.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Oct. 2025
The rest of the world makes up about 16% of H-1B workers.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
An inner radiative zone (makes up 70 percent of the Sun by radius), where energy flows smoothly and the whole region spins together like a solid ball, and the outer convective zone (the remaining 30 percent), where hot gases swirl chaotically and spin at different speeds depending on location.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
That makes up less than 4% of total roles outside of the police and fire departments, a city spokeswoman said.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 31 Aug. 2025
Salty, savory soy sauce makes up the bulk of the vinaigrette and adds great flavor to the dressing.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Micron makes up its eastern edge, and the company likely would steer city planning for that area.
—Mark Dee
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
More expensive category two tickets makes up the rest of the 400-level and some 300-level sections.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Their back-and-forth makes up the core of the film, as twists, turns and discoveries gradually unfold.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Oct. 2025
The rest of the world makes up about 16% of H-1B workers.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
An inner radiative zone (makes up 70 percent of the Sun by radius), where energy flows smoothly and the whole region spins together like a solid ball, and the outer convective zone (the remaining 30 percent), where hot gases swirl chaotically and spin at different speeds depending on location.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
That makes up less than 4% of total roles outside of the police and fire departments, a city spokeswoman said.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 31 Aug. 2025
Salty, savory soy sauce makes up the bulk of the vinaigrette and adds great flavor to the dressing.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makes up
Verb
-
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which comprises 30 stocks, has consistently outperformed its benchmark, which includes all three – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For decades, researchers have hoped to demystify what's known as dark matter, a material that comprises just over a quarter of our universe.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tiffany Bendayan, a chef and baker in Miami, devises different ways to make the table a space where her daughters—Emily and Sofia—feel comfortable sharing just about anything.—
Karen Cicero,
Parents,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Odysseus, the Ithacan warrior who is as celebrated for craftiness as Achilles is for brute strength, devises a clever ruse in which the Greeks place a giant wooden horse outside Troy’s walls and pretend to sail away.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over time, repetition builds confidence.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Founded in Solana Beach in 2020, the Sister Cities Project builds connections between North County communities and their neighbors across the city in Southeastern San Diego.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The incident demonstrates that freezing out a critical voice through administrative pressure constitutes an authoritarian suppression of dissent, with the blocking itself becoming more newsworthy and damaging to the administration than the governor’s original remarks would have been.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Except where prohibited, acceptance of the Prize constitutes winner’s consent to Sponsor’s use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, biographical information, hometown, and state for promotional purposes in any media without further payment of consideration.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The administration concocts a legal rationale for a foreign policy objective.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Executive pastry chef Jess Robertson, Ian’s wife, concocts desserts ranging from $4 oatmeal cream pies to $100 banana splits.—
Mary LeBus,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
After Yo’s death, Anna re-constructs a space where Yo’s home, stories, and their relationship continue.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
-
As The Late Show constructs its swan song, Colbert is thinking longitudinally.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What makes the experience especially compelling is the format itself.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
As a result of its many cooks, KPop Demon Hunters has a complex, sometimes contradictory view of what makes a song K-pop.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Man-su, wanting an accurate sense of his competition, invents a fake job opportunity and puts out a call for applicants.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
-
That said, if Stacey can continue to show up as GNA invents new reasons to exist every season, the women could have shown up to the company break-room party that Stacey called a grand opening.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Makes up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makes%20up. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
