make out

verb

made out; making out; makes out

transitive verb

1

: to complete (something, such as a printed form) by supplying required information

make out a check

2

: to find or grasp the meaning of

tried to make out what had really happened

3

: to form an opinion or idea about : conclude

how do you make that out

4

a

: to represent as being

made them out to be losers

b

: to pretend to be true

made out that he had never heard of me

5

: to represent or delineate in detail

6

: to see and identify with difficulty or effort : discern

make out a ship through the fog

intransitive verb

1

: get along, fare

how are you making out with the new job

2

a

: to engage in sexual intercourse

b

: neck sense 1

Synonyms

• cope
• do
• fare
• get along
• get by
• get on
• manage
• shift

Examples of make out in a Sentence

we're not rich, but we're making out all right

I can't quite make out what she is trying to say.

Recent Examples on the Web

Escape to Film Forum and watch Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, dripping wet and lightly broiled by a Provençal sun, make out beside a swimming pool. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024

However, Katie’s make out session didn’t derail Schwartz’s plans with Tori. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

What makes this East Village venue unique is that some of the structures are made out of large shipping containers like the bathrooms, kitchen, bar and coffee shop. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024

Eclipse glasses were made out of shards of clear glass blackened over a candle. —Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

But for the former, the awards shine isn’t all it’s made out to be. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Peering through his eyepiece, Long Ben—as Avery’s crew called him on deck—made out a few dozen makeshift huts inland of the trees screening the coast. —Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Around this time, tobacco companies warmed up to the potential of cigarettes made out of chocolate, bubblegum, or pure sugar. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024

The family also asked for donations in lieu of flowers to honor Brigid Kelly, made out to the Jennarosity at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, which benefits young cancer patients or the scholarship program at St. Ursula Academy. —Sharon Coolidge, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

make out

verb

1

: to draw up in writing

make out a shopping list

2

: understand sense 1a

how do you make that out

3

: to represent as being

made her out a hero

4

: to see and identify with difficulty

make out a form in the fog

5

: succeed sense 2

make out well in business

6

: to engage in kissing and petting