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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out
Verb
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Her group provides services through Zoom and Google Meet to more than 7,000 adults and children coping with stressors such as cancer and chronic pain, as well as with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.—
Holly Dagres,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
-
In a way, Stand Up is the love story between those two coping mechanisms.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Alsing noted that technical capabilities can be learned, emphasizing that a skill that compounds over a career is being comfortable with not knowing and figuring it out anyway.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 June 2026
-
Then there’s the psychological barrier of knowing your meals will be repetitive, or worse, if certain experiments prove practical, that your last … uh… output … could become your next input.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
Verb
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How might Infantino continue to profess neutrality while still clearly taking a side, pretending to listen to every voice while remaining obedient to only one?—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
Organizations that have spent decades pretending that the best way to find a new audience is to alienate your existing one are beginning to realize the cost of their folly.—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
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
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Everybody knows that there’ll be certain parts that are doing okay, but a large part of the society in North Korea is very poor.—
Andrew McNicol,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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In coverage at Barron’s, Paul La Monica notes how Fidelity is probably doing this due to pressure from brokers like Robinhood that don’t have the same usual requirements.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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While this energy focuses more on couples, exploring and understanding your needs and sexuality will feel deeply fulfilling at this time.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
Davis told Variety that Bulochnikov-Paul’s experience is a sign of how much progress has been made in research and understanding how to manage the diseases, which affects different people in different ways.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
7 June 2026
Verb
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And Indiana's attorney general has asked a federal appeals court to take note of the Louisiana case when deciding a challenge to how judges are selected in Lake County.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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Mayor Eric Johnson and city council members are getting closer to deciding what to do about Dallas City Hall.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Verb
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An education tent will provide free education and resources regarding topics from deciphering Title IX to end-of-life care and self-advocacy.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
-
Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Making out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/making%20out. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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