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 one photo shared by TMZ, the pair can even be spotted making out. —Glamour, 6 Jan. 2025

The guy was made out to be a MASSIVE punchline after his rough rookie year. —Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025

The former quality was a huge asset when her chief stew, Jenna MacGillivray, was too busy making out with the chef, as was the latter when a male guest repeatedly lifted her into the air without her consent. 49. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024

That is the single source which so many decisions are made out of and so many songs written from. —Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Dec. 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