make

The word "make" is usually used as a verb. It means to create something.

• Sophia is making dinner.
• Our neighbor is making noise.
• Those kids are making a mess.
• That company makes computers.
• Maria made a dress for her daughter.
• Congress will make some new laws next year.
• Steven Spielberg has made many movies.
• Have you ever made bread?

She’s making bread with her daughter.

There are also many other, varied meanings for "make."

• How much do you make every year? (make = earn)
• I’m sorry, I can’t make the party. (make = come)
• They didn’t make it to the airport on time. (make = arrive)
• Try not to make a big deal out of this. (Don’t create a problem.)
• The flowers really made her day. (She was very happy to receive flowers.)
• The people who own that company have it made. (have it made = to be very successful)
• The police made the man give up the gun. (make = force)
• Jim and Ashley probably aren’t going to make it as a married couple. (make it = succeed)
• The flowers didn’t make it through the cold weather. (make it = survive)
• Everyone admires a self-made man or woman. (self-made = to become successful without help from parents or some other benefactor)
• Can you make out the license plate on that car? (make out = see)
• A couple of teenagers were making out in the back seat of the car. (make out = kiss)
• How did you make out at the racetrack? (make out = to do well)

Sometimes the word "make" is a noun:

• What’s the make and model of the car you drive? (make = company name)
• A stamp shows the make on the bottom of the vase.
• Tony is always on the make. (on the make = looking for an advantage or opportunity)

Note: This is one of those words that you must learn how to use in many different applications. For more examples, go to the Purple Level.)

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This page was first published on October 12, 2012. It was last updated on October 24, 2015.