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

And, because everyone knows that the best things in life come in multiples, snagging stack-worthy jewelry sets made out in your metal-of-choice is the ultimate way to go. —Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025

Sunday’s fifth episode set in Thailand showed Lochlan making out (clip below) with a confused-looking Saxon while the brothers were partying with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) on a yacht. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025

Chelsea makes out with Chloe; Chloe makes out with Lochlan. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025

Ray Nicholson's stalker Paul Duerson might spend most of Borderline trying to marry Samara Weaving's popstar Sofia, but for the actor, the best part of his new movie was making out with another costar. —EW.com, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for make out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

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