make
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈeɪk/
US
- /ˈmeɪk/
Meanings
Verb
to create, build, produce, or prepare something
to cause or compel someone or something to do, feel, or become something
to earn or bring in money
More meaningsFewer meanings
to add up to, amount to, or constitute a total
Noun
a commercial brand or manufacturer of a product, especially a vehicle
Beyond the definition
"Make" may look simple, but it does a lot of work in English. We use it when something is created or produced, like "make a cake" or "make a plan." It also means to cause a result, as in "make someone laugh" or "make a mess." In many everyday situations, it carries the idea of bringing something into being through action, effort, or choice.
It also shows up in many common phrases, such as "make up your mind," "make a difference," and "make sure." That is one reason this small, everyday word appears so often.
The verb "make" is one of the most common and flexible words in English. At its heart, it often means to create, produce, or form something that was not there before. You can make a meal, make a list, make a dress, or make a fire. It is used for both physical things and less physical ones, such as a plan, a choice, or a promise.
But "make" is not only about creation. It is also used when something causes a result or changes a situation. "The joke made everyone laugh" means the joke caused laughter. "The long walk made him tired" means it caused a change in how he felt. In some cases, it can also mean to force or require someone to do something, as in "The teacher made the students rewrite the paragraph."
This verb is also common in everyday combinations and fixed phrases. We say "make sure" when we mean check or ensure, "make up your mind" when choosing, "make a difference" when something has an important effect, and "make do" when we manage with what we have. These expressions are very common and help explain why the word appears in so many different settings.
In addition, "make" is often used for actions, achievements, and results. Someone can make a speech, make a suggestion, make progress, make money, make a mistake, or make it to the station on time. In these cases, the word often points to an action that leads to a clear outcome.
Taken together, "make" is a basic but powerful verb for talking about creation, results, actions, pressure, and common everyday expressions. It is one of the key building blocks of natural English and a word learners will meet again and again.
Examples
- 1
Baking
She made a cake for her brother's birthday.
- 2
Drinks
I'll make some coffee while you set the table.
- 3
Household chore
Can you make the bed before you leave?
- 4
Decision making
We need to make a decision by Friday.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Noise
The children made a lot of noise upstairs.
- 6
Causing action
His joke made everyone laugh.
- Patternmake someone do something
cause someone to do it
- 7
Causing change
This rain makes the roads dangerous.
- Patternmake someone/something + adjective
cause them or it to become that way
- 8
Checking certainty
Make sure the door is locked.
- Phrasemake sure
check or do what is needed so something is certain
- 9
Clear explanation
That explanation doesn't make sense to me.
- Phrasemake sense
be clear or logical
- 10
Attendance
I can't make it to the meeting today.
- Patternmake it to + place/event
arrive at or attend
- 11
Suitable role
She made a good teacher because she was patient and clear.
- Patternmake a good/bad + role
be suitable for that role
- 12
Inventing
They made up a story about getting lost.
- Phrasemake up
invent
- 13
Group composition
Women make up more than half of the team.
- Phrasemake up
form or be part of a whole
- 14
Reconciliation
After the argument, they made up the next day.
- Phrasemake up
become friendly again after a disagreement
- 15
Managing without
We forgot plates, so we had to make do with napkins.
- Phrasemake do with
manage using what is available
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- makenounverb
Forms
- madepast tensepast participleverbnoun
- making-ing formverbnoun
- makespluralnounverb