MAKING THE GRADE Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

making the grade

phrase

present participle of make the grade

as in making it

to reach a desired level of accomplishment There were many applicants for the position, but only a few made the grade for an interview.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making the grade

Phrase

Research suggests that wildlife crossings with fencing can cut large-animal collisions by more than 80%, making it among the most effective ways to improve driver safety and wildlife connectivity, according to the Pew Research Center.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Milwaukee pulled to 85-72 after three quarters and got the first basket of the fourth, but Towns led the way as New York quickly pushed the lead beyond 20, with consecutive 3-pointers by Anunoby making it 106-78.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of making it

Phrase

There’s no substitute for time and getting there on your own time.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
Goldman still believes in the long-term payoff, but getting there requires wading through near-term labor-market disruption that will weigh on growth before lifting it.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting there

Phrase

In the seventh, reliever Steven Matz issued a leadoff walk to Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt after getting ahead 1-2 in the count.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
By the end of the fifth, the Dodgers had gone eight consecutive innings without scoring, and with a game plan of getting ahead before the Brewers’ vaunted bullpen could take over.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting ahead

Phrase

Bouchard scored twice in the second period, sparking Edmonton's rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the frame on a long wrist shot through traffic.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Bouchard scored twice in the second, sparking Edmonton’s rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the period on a long wrist shot through traffic.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of cutting it

Phrase

Cecil oversaw the opening of The Inn in 2001, making good, more than a century later, on his great-grandfather’s original vision for a hotel component to his country estate.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
Sitting in first place in the NFC East, the Giants are banking on McCarthy making good on his growing confidence.

— CBS New York Team, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of making good

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.

Browse Nearby Words

making sport of

making the grade

making tracks

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Making the grade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/making%20the%20grade. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of making the grade

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

impertinent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes