make out

verb

made out; making out; makes out
Synonyms of make outnext

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

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
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.
The public feed of his account is filled with payments made out to him. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026 Additionally, there was a jaw piece and the wig, which was made out of muka, a fiber produced from New Zealand flax. — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026 The news release said investigators were provided a check made out to Palicka for $12,000 from the victim's account in 2021, though police believe the thefts began as early as July 2020. — Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 For many years people believed that light was made out of particles flying in straight rays. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make out

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of make out was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20out. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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
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