English Profile

make · verb T

/meɪk/Full view

Word family

Nouns: make, remake, maker, makings

Verbs: make, remake

make (PRODUCE)

A1 to produce or create something

Dictionary examples:

Shall I make some coffee?

He made us some lunch.

She makes all her own clothes.

He works for a company that makes garden furniture.

John Huston made some great films.

Learner example:

You can make a quick snack, for example a sandwich. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; German)

be made from/(out) of sth

A2 to be produced from a substance or material

Dictionary examples:

Butter is made from milk.

There were bowls made of pure gold.

They make furniture out of steel.

Learner example:

It is made of gold. (Key English Test; A2; Japanese)

make (PERFORM)

A2 to perform an action

Dictionary examples:

I must make a telephone call.

Have you made a doctor's appointment?

Have you made a decision about your job yet?

Someone's made a mistake.

Can I make a suggestion?

He's not making any effort.

She made a short speech.

Shall we make a start on the work?

Learner example:

I think I made a good choice. (Key English Test; A2; French)

make sure

A2 to take action so that you are certain that something happens

Dictionary examples:

I'll just make sure I've turned the oven off.

Make sure you're home by midnight.

Learner example:

So please make sure that you we[ar] old clothes. (Key English Test; A2; Albanian)

make (CAUSE)

B1 to cause something to happen or cause a particular state

Dictionary examples:

What made you change your mind?

He really makes me laugh.

This photograph makes me look about 80!

It makes me so angry when he says that.

This heat makes me very tired.

Learner example:

It's so funny and it makes me laugh. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Vietnamese)

make sb do sth

B1 to force someone or something to do something

Dictionary examples:

I made him clean his room.

You can't make him go if he doesn't want to.

Learner example:

I could make him wait a little. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

make up your mind or make your mind up

B1 to make a decision

Dictionary examples:

I haven't made up my mind whether to apply for the job yet.

They couldn't make their minds up about where to go on holiday.

Learner example:

The place was so dirty that I made up my mind to change it by buy[ing] something useful. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Chinese)

make (ARRIVE)

B1 to manage to arrive at a place

Dictionary examples:

I'm afraid I can't make the meeting this afternoon.

She made it to the airport just in time to catch her plane.

Learner example:

Respected Madam, I'm sorry that I can't make it to the English class tomorrow as I have a high temperature. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Tamil)

make a face ()

B1 to show with your face that you do not like someone or something

Dictionary example:

Joe made a face when he saw what was for lunch.

Learner example:

Making a face, I slapped my forehead. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Assamese)

make friends (with sb)

B1 to begin to know and like someone

Dictionary examples:

He finds it difficult to make friends.

He's made friends with a boy in his class called Alex.

Learner example:

Although I didn't know anyone in this club, I immediately made friends with Maria and Rosaria. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

make (EARN)

B2 to earn

Dictionary examples:

She makes around $80,000 a year as a doctor.

How do you make a living as a painter?

Both companies have made huge profits/losses.

Learner example:

The truth is that our grandparents worked very hard to make a living. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

make the/sb's bed

B2 to put sheets and covers on a bed or to make the sheets and covers on a bed neat

Dictionary examples:

Did you make the bed?

The kids don't always have time to make their beds before school.

Learner example:

Driving through the mountains we didn't reach the cabin until late at night. So we just made the beds and went off to sleep. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

make the most of sth

B2 to take full advantage of something because it may not last long

Dictionary example:

We should make the most of this good weather.

Learner example:

Remember, always try to make the most of your life. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

make the best of sth

B2 to try to be positive about a situation you do not like but cannot change

Dictionary example:

Our hotel room is pretty small, but we'll just have to make the best of it.

Learner example:

Unfortunately I don't have very much spare time so we will have to arrange it carefully in order to make the best of your time in London. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

make a (big) difference ()

B2 to improve a situation (a lot)

Dictionary example:

Exercise can make a big difference to your health.

Learner example:

It wouldn't make a big difference in my life, but it would be good. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

to make matters worse

B2 to make a situation more difficult, unpleasant, etc.

Dictionary example:

To make matters worse, our car broke down!

Learner example:

To make matters worse, the newspaper said they only played for thirty-five minutes. (First Certificate in English; B2; Thai)

make a fool (out) of sb ()

B2 to make someone look stupid intentionally

Dictionary example:

She was always trying to make a fool out of me in front of my friends.

Learner example:

He thought I had tried to make a fool of him but no, I was really desperate to get him as my boyfriend. (First Certificate in English; B2; Danish)

make a fool of yourself ()

B2 to behave in a silly or embarrassing way

Dictionary example:

I got very excited and made a fool of myself.

Learner example:

I had to leave that shop in full embarrassment and I also made a fool of myself. (First Certificate in English; B2; Danish)

make fun of sb/sth

B2 to make a joke about someone or something in an unkind way

Dictionary example:

The other children at school used to make fun of his hair.

Learner example:

I didn't want to tell other people because I didn't want them to make fun of me. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

make sense

B2 to have a meaning or reason that you can understand

Dictionary example:

He's written me this note but it doesn't make any sense.

Learner example:

All these words might not make sense but this is the story of how we felt. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

make sense

B2 to be a good thing to do

Dictionary example:

It makes sense to buy now while prices are low.

Learner example:

Therefore it make[s] sense to use the innovation[s]. (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

make time

C1 to leave enough time to do something although you are busy

Dictionary examples:

You have to make time to do your homework.

He never made enough time for family life.

Learner example:

I'm terribly sorry for not being able to make time to pick you up when you arrive. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Swedish)

make (SUITABLE)

C1 to have the necessary qualities to become something

Dictionary examples:

He would make a really good dad.

I wouldn't make a very good lawyer.

It's a very exciting story - it would make a great film.

Learner example:

That is why I think I would make a good judge. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Romanian)

make it (big)

C1 to be successful

Dictionary examples:

Very few actors actually make it.

Fe made it big in the music business.

Learner example:

People who belong to this social [group] are much more determined to "make it" in life. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Tagalog)

make ends meet

C1 to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need

Dictionary example:

I had to get a second job just to make ends meet.

Learner example:

Most students support themselves and barely make ends meet every month. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Japanese)

make yourself at home

C1 to behave in a relaxed way in a place, as if it was your own home

Dictionary example:

Take off your coat and make yourself at home.

Learner example:

Please relax and make yourself at home and help yourself. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Japanese)

make a note of sth

C1 to write down information about something

Dictionary example:

Let me make a note of your phone number.

Learner example:

After talking to other members, I have made a note of the main problems they considered the most urgent to be solved. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Portuguese)

make yourself understood

C1 to say something to someone in a way that they understand

Dictionary example:

I had a little difficulty making myself understood.

Learner example:

(Find enclosed a paper slip on which I have written a destination, number of tickets, etc., in the German language - use it just in case you can't make yourselves understood.) (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; German)

to make a long story short

C1 to mention only the final result or point of something without going into other details

Dictionary example:

To make a long story short, he never played baseball again.

Learner example:

To make a long story short, my mother turned out to be an understanding person. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

make do (with)

C2 to use something that is less good than you would like

Dictionary example:

If we can't get a bigger room we'll have to make do with this.

Learner example:

Very calmly, he said "I am not going to put up with this. You might say that I am being too emotional, overreacting, whatever. But I will not come back until my piano has been returned. And let me make very clear that I will not make do with another instrument." (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

make light of sth

C2 to talk or behave as if you do not think a problem is serious

Dictionary example:

I just laughed and tried to make light of it.

Learner example:

They project an optimistic image and make light of the troubles in life. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Chinese)

make allowances for sb/sth

C2 to remember that someone has a disadvantage which is not their fault when you are judging their behavior or work

Dictionary example:

They made allowances for the fact that he was ill.

Learner example:

I would say Mr. Stevens is a victim of his sense of duty, which makes him think of marriage as a traitor's act, but I don't know to what extent we should make allowances for his strong convictions. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

make your blood run cold

C2 If something makes your blood run cold, it frightens you very much.

Dictionary example:

I heard a tapping on the window which made my blood run cold.

Learner example:

This thought scared me and made my blood run cold. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Turkish)

make your blood boil

C2 to make you extremely angry

Dictionary example:

The way they have treated those people makes my blood boil.

Learner example:

Paul said something repulsive, with a cold light in his eyes, and it made her blood boil. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

make sb's day

C2 to make someone very happy

Dictionary example:

Seeing those little kids having so much fun just made my day.

Learner example:

Thank you for returning [my] lost diary; you have made my day! (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

make light of sth

C2 to talk or behave as if you do not think a problem is serious

Dictionary example:

I just laughed and tried to make light of it.

Learner example:

They project an optimistic image and make light of the troubles in life. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Chinese)

make a name for yourself

C2 to become famous or respected by a lot of people

Dictionary example:

He's been trying to make a name for himself in the music business.

Learner example:

Secondly, only [a] few sportsmen and sportswomen manage to make a name for themselves and get to the top. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

make your presence felt

C2 to have a strong effect on other people

Dictionary example:

The new police chief has really made his presence felt.

Learner example:

Before long a local bicycle gang was formed which would ride all over the village, through fields and gardens, making our presence felt. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

make a run for it

C2 to suddenly run fast in order to escape from somewhere

Dictionary example:

When he saw the open door, he made a run for it.

Learner example:

Anna and Tom decided to make a run for it. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

make waves

C2 to cause problems by asking difficult questions or criticizing

Dictionary example:

He has earned a reputation for making waves during political campaigns.

Learner example:

If we don't want to regret anything, it is time we started to make waves by s[c]rutinizing our history. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Turkish)

make your way

C2 to be successful and make progress in your work

Dictionary example:

He managed to make his way in the film industry.

Learner example:

For each one of the famous sportsmen we re[cog]ni[z]e on television or in the newspapers, there are thousands of hopeful youngsters trying to make their way to the top. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

make way for sth

C2 to be replaced by someone or something

Dictionary example:

They knocked down the old houses to make way for a new hotel.

Learner example:

Local markets are broken down to make way for shopping malls, which sell items for the brand conscious population of today. (International English Language Testing System; C2; Hindi)

make sense of sth

C2 to understand something that is difficult to understand

Dictionary example:

I'm trying to make sense of this document.

Learner example:

In fact, it's during his journey that Stevens begins to make sense of his life, of all the years he spent as a butler, as the "perfect butler" who had to be loyal, silent and discreet. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Italian)

make a splash

C2 to get a lot of public attention

Dictionary example:

The movie made quite a splash in the US.

Learner example:

Moreover, it is no use splashing your money [around on] expensive gifts because this behavior shows that you are not happy but your purpose is to make a splash. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

make for sth

B2 to move toward a place

Dictionary example:

He got up and made for the exit.

Learner example:

We might take a rest at the Frene Hotel and after having visited the Butterfly Farm, we will make for the Lakeside Inn. (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

make sth into sth

B2 to change something into something else

Dictionary example:

They've made the spare room into an office.

Learner example:

Sometimes people don't bother to read a book because it has been made into a film or a serie[s]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

make of sb/sth

C2 If you ask someone what they make of someone or something, you want to know their opinion about that person or thing.

Dictionary examples:

What do you make of this letter?

I don't know what to make of him.

Learner example:

At first we did not know what to make of it and we were all dumbfounded; but later we realized that it was none other [than] the Icelandic lady out there on our lawn. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

make out sth/sb or make sth/sb out

B2 to be able to see, hear or understand something or someone but with difficulty

Dictionary examples:

We could just make out a building through the trees.

Could you make out what she was saying?

Learner example:

Somebody was standing outside, but she couldn't make out who [it] could be. (First Certificate in English; B2; Slovene)

make up sth or make sth up

B2 to say or write something that is not true

Dictionary examples:

I made up an excuse about having to look after the kids.

My dad was always really good at making up stories.

Learner example:

Donald made up the best story. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

make up for sth

B2 to reduce the bad effect of something, or make something bad become something good

Dictionary examples:

No amount of money can make up for the death of a child.

This year's good harvest will make up for last year's bad one.

He bought me dinner to make up for being so late the day before.

Learner example:

I really want to make up for the broken vase, but I am not sure if you will like my choice. (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)