1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of making out
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
After the fundraiser, sweet young couple Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) are making out by the tennis courts, fantasizing about one day having a family, when their boss, Janet (Michole Briana White), asks them to drop off Josh’s wallet at his house.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 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
Well, Gomez ended up making out with him that very night, his Armani jacket draped casually over her shoulders.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
The subsequent episode—in which Sullivan, who had a serious boyfriend at home, is seen making out with one of the men—framed the incident as a simple case of infidelity.
—Judy Berman, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
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
After the fundraiser, sweet young couple Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) are making out by the tennis courts, fantasizing about one day having a family, when their boss, Janet (Michole Briana White), asks them to drop off Josh’s wallet at his house.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 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
Well, Gomez ended up making out with him that very night, his Armani jacket draped casually over her shoulders.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
The subsequent episode—in which Sullivan, who had a serious boyfriend at home, is seen making out with one of the men—framed the incident as a simple case of infidelity.
—Judy Berman, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out
Verb
-
Costa said the study gave him valuable information on coping techniques.—
Cindy Hsu,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Students trained in these skills move from coping to capacity.—
Sharon A. Kuhn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Knicks fans are hoping to break their 53-year championship drought, knowing a title would also silence one of Jalen Brunson’s biggest critics.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2026
-
Just their approach every single day, just how to come in, taking responsibility knowing what to do and how to do it.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Stay open without pretending every detail is solved.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
With the war’s turbulence on the economy more prevalent and the internet now throttled, Russians no longer have the luxury of pretending the war in Ukraine isn’t happening.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Verb
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But deriving a unified theory of volcanism will require a geologic Manhattan Project.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every generation eventually rewrites George Washington, which tells you less about Washington than about the country doing the rewriting.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2026
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Pritzker has proposed a social media tax projected to bring in about $200 million from large tech companies doing business in Illinois.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Younger children may have trouble understanding the idea of a hurricane.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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HowLitt credits Pratt with understanding how to break through with a communications message, something many Democrats do not.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Her mother, Sara Spalding, attended Yale Law School and built a successful career for herself before ultimately deciding to stay home and raise her four kids.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
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But, in a democracy, deciding whether the creation of the fund violates the moral maxim that no one can be a judge in his or her own cause ultimately will be up to the people.—
Austin Sarat,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
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The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Making out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/making%20out. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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