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

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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

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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

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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

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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 Not the family stuff, like Natalie’s spontaneous nipple piercing after making out with Cady’s maybe-daughter, Nevaeh (Malia Pyles), who later murders her own mother after kissing her, for way too long, on the mouth. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making out

Verb

Work with your care provider on coping strategies, including breathwork, exercise and establishing a routine to help balance the anxious thoughts.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Thus, attention that might have been devoted to local coping mechanisms or new business opportunities was peeled away and newly affixed to the Prime Minister and his stalwart scientific advisors.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of coping

Verb

An elderly Parker County man was beaten and robbed by a woman who gained access to his home after pretending to be a police officer, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Saturday.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
One email told Angela that Lilith had contacted someone on Craigslist pretending to be her and accepting the poster’s request to fulfill a rape fantasy at their condo, per NBC News.

— Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

Definition of pretending

Verb

According to Kolar, estimating how long $1 million in savings will last in retirement starts with understanding your current spending habits and then forecasting your future needs.

— Evan Zimmer, CNBC, 22 July 2026
As private market investments comprise an increasingly large proportion of the overall portfolio, understanding alternative investment valuations and their impact on measured volatility and return is critical.

— Jeffrey Bartel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of understanding

Verb

And yet based on some of its recent actions, this exec also believes Netflix’s leadership may be more concerned than it’s been letting on.

— Josef Adalian, Vulture, 16 July 2026
Franco's new followers were quick to flood into the comment section with their suspicions that there was more to the posts than the actor was letting on.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Definition of letting on

Verb

The very title is real-world shorthand for technology's role in deciding who lives and who dies — and how the military should respond to any truly autonomous attacks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Before deciding whether to return, consider these seven factors to assess what has changed, what the company is offering and whether returning supports your long-term career goals.

— Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026