make out

verb

made out; making out; makes out

transitive verb

1

: to complete (something, such as a printed form) by supplying required information

make out a check

2

: to find or grasp the meaning of

tried to make out what had really happened

3

: to form an opinion or idea about : conclude

how do you make that out

4

a

: to represent as being

made them out to be losers

b

: to pretend to be true

made out that he had never heard of me

5

: to represent or delineate in detail

6

: to see and identify with difficulty or effort : discern

make out a ship through the fog

intransitive verb

1

: get along, fare

how are you making out with the new job

2

a

: to engage in sexual intercourse

b

: neck sense 1

Synonyms

• cope
• do
• fare
• get along
• get by
• get on
• manage
• shift

Examples of make out in a Sentence

we're not rich, but we're making out all right

I can't quite make out what she is trying to say.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1761, in celebration of his coronation, England’s King George III was depicted in a portrait by Allan Ramsay with an elaborate cravat bow, probably made out of an expensive fabric such as silk. —Camille Davis / Made By History, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

In a pot made out of inflexible material, tap the bottom firmly on a hard surface a few times to help loosen it. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024

The match between the trans women culminated in the competitors making out instead of exchanging blows — a controversial act in Texas. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024

But the pandemic-era inflationary period played out unlike any other in history, and wealthy people made out like bandits. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

make out

verb

1

: to draw up in writing

make out a shopping list

2

: understand sense 1a

how do you make that out

3

: to represent as being

made her out a hero

4

: to see and identify with difficulty

make out a form in the fog

5

: succeed sense 2

make out well in business

6

: to engage in kissing and petting