makes out

Definition of makes outnext
present tense third-person singular of make out
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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 Even Fraser makes out with Rainbeau and Damo. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makes out
Verb
  • Another interesting storyline will be how El Hadji Malick Diouf copes with Saka’s attacking threat down the Arsenal right.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026
  • Our awkward hero copes with grief through humor while navigating relationships with her type-A sister (Sian Clifford), her nasty stepmother (Olivia Colman), and, in season 2, a hot priest (Andrew Scott).
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Holmes knows the difference between a hundred and forty types of tobacco ash.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • No one ever quite knows how an event will be interrupted, a notion that was proved bizarrely at last week’s World Snooker Championships when an audience member halted proceedings to protest about the BBC licence fee.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • But nobody pretends academics matter for college football players in 2026, and shortening the lull could maintain momentum and move the National Championship up a few weeks.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
  • There's also Bright White, which pretends to be Acetate, and definitely has the texture of something that wants to be organic.
    Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The trail, which derives its name from the slaughterhouses that first existed in the 1600s, also served as the backdrop for Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar's 1982 movie, Laberinto de Pasiones.
    Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
  • The rule against prior restraint derives from the English common law principle that liberty of the press is essential to a free state.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • California does a good job verifying its voter rolls, but there’s no harm in requiring an ID provided the requirements don’t create excessive hurdles for those who may not have a driver’s license.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
  • Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.
    Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Peace returns when everyone understands what is being shared.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • The director understands immediately.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Deborah decides to apologize to Kelly at a restaurant, with hopes of getting the outfit.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • What California decides — and when — will matter at the national level.
    Ana Ceballos Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Hometown Heroes recognizes and supports the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States.
    Anne Brensley, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
  • Richie, an audiophile, immediately recognizes the artist and sparks up a conversation.
    Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Makes out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makes%20out. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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