make out

verb

Definition of make outnext
1
as in to cope
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
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of I can't quite make out what she is trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to pretend
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
4
as in to derive
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 make out For the past two decades, Boise State and Fresno State have competed almost annually for the right to take home the Milk Can, a roughly 2-foot-tall trophy made out of a 10-gallon dairy milk can. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026 The detective found a cashed check for twenty-five grand from the National Enquirer made out to Tom Arnold. — Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Likewise, this season, dancers making out at Diesel made spectators part of the performance. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 If the check is made out to the new company's retirement plan, nobody will be able to cash it except the plan sponsor. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
  1. cope
  2. understand
  3. pretend
  4. derive
  5. do
  6. know
  7. let on
  8. decide
Verb
  • With financing costs still elevated, many car buyers are taking on larger loans and extending repayment terms to cope with affordability challenges, according to Edmunds.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of cope
Verb
  • Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Smart did not enter pleas to charges of being armed, or pretending to be armed, in a way that may cause fear and with making an unlawful threat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Lee uses this to his advantage, pretending to be a pidgin-speaking Chinese immigrant to protect himself from white people’s suspicion and mistrust.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretend
Verb
  • The twist here is that the action is derived from two different points in history, switching back and forth between eras and ultimately melding the two.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The guarantee derived from a calculation by Hoover’s engineering deputy, Arthur Powell Davis, that so much water flowed down the river that there would always be enough to meet every state’s needs.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of derive
Verb
  • There are rippling gasps, drums, strings, sax, a vaguely Latin guitar, a sample of a woman talking about getting her hair done.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Sellers who have the option to pull their listing off the market are generally doing so.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of do
Verb
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.
    — Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • How hair supplements work The oral-versus-topical distinction matters more than most marketing lets on.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As for 5-star quarterback Julian Lewis, who was demoted last week, there seems to be more to the situation than Deion is intentionally letting on.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of let on
Verb
  • Trials in four other cases in which Sorrells’ predecessor, Sharen Wilson, decided to seek the death penalty, have occurred during Sorrells term.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The next auto race will be decided by which country can excel at both.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of decide

Browse Nearby Words

make-or-break
make out
make over
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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