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
Patrick took it surprisingly well, because Kacie kept making out with him and confirming that her choice had nothing to do with her feelings for him.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The two were caught passionately making out at the 2019 ACM Awards by the CBS cameras.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Whether through canny critique or open wist, shows about making out-of-fashion things can offer us space to predict, resist, and elegize our way through a dark and muddy cultural moment.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Slade then reveals the alleged existence of a tape that includes not just the song but the sounds of Tamra and an unnamed ’90s pop star in the studio making out, having forgotten that the tape was running.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Hugo even snaps a shot of them making out on their break.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Home planetariums are often dome or round-shaped and offer more than just lasers making out to be stars on a wall and they can definitely be used as STEM and learning tools.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The two were caught passionately making out at the 2019 ACM Awards by the CBS cameras.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Whether through canny critique or open wist, shows about making out-of-fashion things can offer us space to predict, resist, and elegize our way through a dark and muddy cultural moment.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Slade then reveals the alleged existence of a tape that includes not just the song but the sounds of Tamra and an unnamed ’90s pop star in the studio making out, having forgotten that the tape was running.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Hugo even snaps a shot of them making out on their break.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Home planetariums are often dome or round-shaped and offer more than just lasers making out to be stars on a wall and they can definitely be used as STEM and learning tools.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out
Verb
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Instead, Bennett explains that the best way parents can address their teen’s anxiety is by finding a balance between support and teaching coping strategies—as well as seeking out outside professional help if their children’s situation calls for it.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
26 Sep. 2025
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Berry also recommends parents and children practice healthy coping skills, such as progressive muscle relaxation or journaling, together.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit further alleges that the airlines manipulated and abused the arrival rate system at DCA airport to force more arrivals per hour, despite knowing that doing so would reduce safety margins.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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The price point is steep, especially knowing that there aren’t easier care instructions or colors to choose from for those who like an eclectic bedspread.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Beneath the prosthetics and punchlines lies a story about the cost of pretending and the possibility of renewal.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Burnett learned how to disassociate, pretending at bath time to be a mermaid or drawing comics about a fictional happy family.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the years since, Wickelgren, Kass and others have reframed a host of other enumerative problems using motivic homotopy theory, deriving the relevant quadratic forms in various number systems.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
26 Sep. 2025
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About half of the company’s sales are direct-to-consumer, deriving from the stores as well as Rails’ e-commerce site.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nearly half of Gen X plan to continue working in retirement, or are already doing so, generally out of necessity.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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These efforts give visitors new awareness of the homegrown organizations doing vital nonprofit work across Puerto Rico, as well as a way to support meaningful work happening on the island.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And without understanding these models at a deep level, they can’t be trusted to do anything where failure is not an option.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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While there’s no single biomarker that can perfectly predict disease or mortality, there are many that reign supreme in understanding women’s overall health and disease risk.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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International pressure on Israel to end the war is increasing, with a growing list of countries deciding recently to recognize Palestinian statehood, which Israel rejects.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
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Despite being a relatively small division within the network, Access Hollywood’s tip led NBC to examine the material, ultimately deciding to release the tape.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though historians have called for further research before making claims, the proposal of a script rooted in sign language might open the chance to explore a new way of deciphering Mayan art and show the ancient civilization to be even more sophisticated and efficient than scholars even knew.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
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Now, a team of international astronomers has succeeded in deciphering the gravitational wave signal, GW190412, to determine more about the collision and the resulting event that sent an infant black hole hurtling through space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Making out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/making%20out. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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