MAKING OUT Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

making out

verb

present participle of make out

as in coping

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 knowing

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 pretending

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 deriving

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

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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 making out Not the family stuff, like Natalie’s spontaneous nipple piercing after making out with Cady’s maybe-daughter, Nevaeh (Malia Pyles), who later murders her own mother after kissing her, for way too long, on the mouth. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026 The finale concluded on an uncomfortable cliffhanger between Benny and Carmen, as the former walked in on the latter making out with his crush Miles (Rish Shah), leading to an unexpected confrontation in which Benny is accidentally outed to his sister. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 6 June 2026 In the finale, which aired earlier this month, they were caught on camera making out. — Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026 With commodities, when geopolitical tensions or inflation fears spike, investors often scramble for upside calls, making out-of-the-money options expensive relative to at-the-money options. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 13 May 2026 After a few minutes, your eyes gradually adjust, and the performers, the maybe-lovers, come into view, flesh on the ground, writhing and making out and embracing. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026 That means skateboarding, sneaking beers, making out, looking for trouble, running from trouble and, to judge from the trailer, floating through space. — ABC News, 1 May 2026 There’s romance, there's tension, and somehow Johnson and Hathaway end up making out. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026 By the end, the vibe had apparently gotten away from him slightly — a couple in the audience was making out. — Kennedy French, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out

Verb

Across Connecticut, families coping with PTSD, chronic pain, depression and treatment-resistant mental health conditions are looking for therapies that offer hope when conventional approaches have fallen short.

— John R. Gordon, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Josefina, growing up on a New Mexico ranch in the 1820s, is coping with her mother’s death.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of coping

Verb

Even worse was Paraguay and Australia, a pair of flawed teams playing to nil-nil in the last group match, knowing a tie sent both through to the knockout stage.

— Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Both Diaz and Rodriguez expressed mixed feelings at the order to leave, knowing there was the possibility of other victims who could be saved.

— Ella Moore July 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Definition of knowing

Verb

The scammer then calls, pretending to be in a crisis and in need of immediate financial assistance.

— Ella Moore July 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
For example, a group of minions might be pretending to fight a group of Vikings on a movie set, or enough alien spaceships to fill the entire screen appear and shoot their lasers at once.

— Parents, Parents, 1 July 2026

Definition of pretending

Verb

Where looksmaxxing or sleepmaxxing push you to squeeze more results out of a habit, slowmaxxing asks you to squeeze more meaning out of doing less.

— Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
Crews doing the shoring work have to take precautions because their job is inherently risky, according to structural engineer Matthew Roblez.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of doing

Verb

This tactical ideology is what gives Morocco an edge, understanding what works so well in Europe and adapting it to their player pool.

— Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Those worries make sense, and understanding how bird flu spreads and what to watch for is the best way to protect your flock and yourself.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of understanding

Verb

Franco's new followers were quick to flood into the comment section with their suspicions that there was more to the posts than the actor was letting on.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
What happens next could matter far more than either side is letting on.

— Mark Minevich, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of letting on

Verb

Out of loyalty to her father, Rhaenyra refuses, eventually deciding to send him north to the Wall.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
At the moment, Congress is having a terrible time deciding how to levy taxes, go to war, protect Social Security, confirm judges and live within its means.

— Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026