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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Axl eventually contacted Vance, my DP, directly to shoot the footage of him and two girls making out in the car. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026 Ava and Shai naturally did some more making out at Charlie’s, but what did Ariana get up to? — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 The book has the teens making out the first night things went from friends to something more, but the show took it to another level with Bret and Debbie having sex on a lounge chair at a party. — Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 On the night of the Sex Purge, the streets are flooded with attractive, thin, largely heterosexual couples making out all over the place. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 This surge is driven by state funding compacts and a commitment to growing California undergraduate enrollment, making out-of-state admission increasingly competitive. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 On July 1, Rodriguez and Hayden were spotted making out at Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s White Party, one month after his split from Jaclyn Cordeiro. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 28 July 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out

Verb

With phones, keys, multi-tools, flashlights, water bottles and charging cables, the modern trouser and jacket pocket has a tough job coping.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
The band has spent hours in interviews explaining their comeback story, finding Armstrong (and new drummer Colin Brittain), and coping with the loss of Bennington.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of coping

Verb

The candles are all different lengths, gradually burning out, and there’s no way of knowing how long each one is.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
In cities like Atlanta, inking deals can rely on knowing the right people or on multigenerational relationships.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of knowing

Verb

The group has been spreading malware to IT job seekers by reaching out on social media and through online job platforms, and then pretending to be official job recruiters for AI and cryptocurrency firms.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
The surviving witness fell to the floor, pretending to be dead, and called 911 once Lee left the store.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of pretending

Verb

There is just enough wry humor—think Shaun of the Dead—sprinkled throughout to keep things from getting too grim, often deriving from Bryan’s cluelessness and general lack of skills.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
The Chiefs finished dead last in the NFL with 362 yards deriving from explosive rushes last season.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of deriving

Verb

Under the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed in June that collapsed within days, Iran's nuclear program was meant to be discussed over a 60-day period.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Still, understanding your own reason for saying yes or no can make the decision much easier.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026