MAKES OUT Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

makes out

verb

present tense third-person singular of make out

as in copes

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

as in knows

to have a clear idea of I can't quite make out what she is trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pretends

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

as in derives

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 makes out The contemporary media environment makes out-and-out suppression of a book difficult. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026 Even Fraser makes out with Rainbeau and Damo. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for makes out

Verb

An event can cause great pain to one person while another copes with it much better.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.

— Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Definition of copes

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 knows

Verb

Directed by Kim Han-gyul, the film is an adaptation of 2012 Swedish film Cockpit about a pilot who pretends to be his own younger sister after being fired from his job.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Everyone pretends the films were chosen purely on merit, but the slate often reads Hollywood with a lanyard and a conscience.

— Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretends

Verb

FirstDate primarily derives those preferences from questionnaires.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
The power of prediction markets derives precisely from sucking our attention toward what’s speculable—incentivizing the networked crowd to separate signal from noise at scale.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of derives

Verb

And a reminder that these millionaires are playing a child’s game, because no one relishes it with quite the joy and verve and passion and emotion and occasional tantrum like Doncic does.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
By default, the dial does nothing other than serve as the pairing button.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of does

Verb

University of Miami president Joe Echevarria understands where the Atlantic Coast Conference stands in the grand scheme of college athletics.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
The smiling, amiable android understands very little about her surroundings, believing that the sun (which recharges her batteries) is a deity that listens to her prayers to be chosen by a human.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of understands

Verb

Yannis decides to go for STP, a Black Forest gâteau, and a Mary Berry’s recipe for Queen of Desserts, which is a mix of breadcrumbs and custard with jam and topped with meringue.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Federal agencies have overlapping jurisdiction over captive marine mammals –– for sea lions, the USDA oversees their welfare and NOAA decides who can keep them for public display.

— Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

Since its launch 15 years ago, Mubadala Capital has become the first sovereign fund to take in third-party capital, and now manages around $60 billion in its core alternatives business.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Aaron Alamary, president of parking management company TruPark USA, manages thousands of parking spaces between Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026