make
Looking for the meaning of make? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
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Brand or kind; model.
“What make of car do you drive?”
Manner or style of construction (style of how a thing is made); form.
Origin (of a manufactured article); manufacture; production.
“The camera was of German make.”
A person's character or disposition.
The act or process of making something, especially in industrial manufacturing.
Quantity produced, especially of materials.
A software utility for automatically building large applications, or an implementation of this utility.
Identification or recognition (of identity), especially from police records or evidence.
(usually in phrase "easy make") Past, present or future target of seduction (usually female).
A promotion.
A home-made project
Turn to declare the trump for a hand (in bridge), or to shuffle the cards.
A made basket.
The closing of an electrical circuit.
To create.
To behave, to act.
“He made as if to punch him, but they both laughed and shook hands.”
To tend; to contribute; to have effect; with for or against.
To constitute.
“One swallow does not a summer make.”
To add up to, have a sum of.
“Two and four make six.”
(construed with of, typically interrogative) To interpret.
“I don’t know what to make of it.”
(usually stressed) To bring into success.
“She married into wealth and so has it made.”
(ditransitive, second object is an adjective or participle) To cause to be.
“Did I make myself heard?”
To cause to appear to be; to represent as.
(ditransitive, second object is a verb) To cause (to do something); to compel (to do something).
“I was made to feel like a criminal.”
(ditransitive, second object is a verb, can be stressed for emphasis or clarity) To force to do.
“Don’t let them make you suffer.”
(ditransitive, of a fact) To indicate or suggest to be.
“His past mistakes don’t make him a bad person.”
(of a bed) To cover neatly with bedclothes.
(law enforcement) To recognise, identify, spot.
To arrive at a destination, usually at or by a certain time.
“We should make Cincinnati by 7 tonight.”
To proceed (in a direction).
“Make for the hills! It's a wildfire!”
To cover (a given distance) by travelling.
To move at (a speed).
“The ship could make 20 knots an hour in calm seas.”
To appoint; to name.
To induct into the Mafia or a similar organization (as a made man).
To defecate or urinate.
To earn, to gain (money, points, membership or status).
“He didn't make the choir after his voice changed.”
To pay, to cover (an expense); chiefly used after expressions of inability.
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
To enact; to establish.
To develop into; to prove to be.
“She'll make a fine president.”
To form or formulate in the mind.
“made a questionable decision”
To perform a feat.
“make a leap”
To gain sufficient audience to warrant its existence.
“In the end, my class didn't make, which left me with a bit of free time.”
To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; often in the phrase to meddle or make.
To increase; to augment; to accrue.
To be engaged or concerned in.
To cause to be (in a specified place), used after a subjective what.
To take the virginity of.
To have sexual intercourse with.
Understanding "make"
The word **"make"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/meɪk/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"make"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "make" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "make" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "make" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /meɪk/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "make" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "make" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "make" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "make". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/meɪk/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "make" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
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How do I use make in a sentence?
Refer to the usage examples above to see how "make" can be used in academic and casual conversations.