MAKING UP Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

making up

verb

present participle of make up

as in comprising

to be all the substance of the book is made up of 20 chapters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in devising

to create or think of by clever use of the imagination she keeps making up excuses as to why she hasn't yet finished the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in building

to form by putting together parts or materials we'll have to make up the bookcase, which came in a box marked "some assembly required"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 up From female directors making up 18-19 percent of film production to more than 30 percent. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026 In 2021, Atrium’s presentation to the city and counted said a majority of the units would be for those making up to 50% AMI. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026 Medicaid now covers families making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 June 2026 Congress has to keep making up the gap with general taxpayer funds. — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 28 May 2026 The timing of the hearing, coming less than three weeks before the primary election, throws a spotlight on the scandal just as voters are making up their minds. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026 So far this year through April 19, 29 of the city’s 201 shooting victims have been under 18 making up 14% of the victims, according to the NYPD. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026 Businesses run by women are beginning to dominate the state’s economy, making up 40% statewide. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026 San Francisco, for instance, now offers interest-free loans of up to $500,000 to first-time homebuyers making up to $218,200 annually. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for making up

Verb

First, a dual-layer receiver comprising a perovskite laser cell coupled to a thermoelectric generator was designed.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Source for add-on acquisitions comprising 75%+ of total buyout activity and PE dry powder figures.

— Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of comprising

Verb

Sarah Sherman Samuel is known for devising furniture worthy of an art show, and the Lulu and Georgia Hamilton sideboard is no exception.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2026
Ten years on, after devising the victorious Trojan Horse gambit, Ulysses attempts to return to Ithaca and the pining Penelope, whose palace has been overrun with scheming suitors seeking her hand.

— Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026

Definition of devising

Verb

The first stage focuses on meeting school community members, the second involves building an academics strategy, the third revolves around operations and finance and the final stage brings those steps together.

— Austin Horn July 30, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
For several candidates, those visions involve building out transit networks within Jackson County in order to connect the cities and towns scattered east of Kansas City.

— Ilana Arougheti July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026

Definition of building

Verb

Emmy-winning composer David Fleming (Widow’s Bay, Superman, HBO’s The Last of Us) was also revealed as the game’s composer, marking his video game composing debut with the main title theme, Logan, now available on all music platforms.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 July 2026
The dots composing the words move up the screen while the rest of the pinpoints move downward, generating a visual opposition that the human mind can detect and discern.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 July 2026

Definition of composing

Verb

Ghost also accused Wilson and her PR team of concocting a smear campaign against her.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
And she’s spent a decade scaling her brand into an industry disrupter; Ellsworth began concocting prebiotic drinks in 2015, founding her business just one year later.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Definition of concocting

Verb

Moore stayed to help with the process of constructing next season’s roster and schedule, as Hurley wanted stability with the offseason shortened by another Final Four run.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Charlotte’s office conversions and renovations While constructing office space has its own issues, that isn’t to say there’s nowhere for workers to go.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of constructing

Verb

That inference used to be reliable because assembling a fake crowd was expensive.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
As Christie’s notes in the sale catalog, the family continued that commitment across five generations, assembling a collection that reflects both their eye for art and their role in shaping its history.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026