1
as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
we're not rich, but we're making out all right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I can't quite make out what she is trying to say
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to pretend
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
he tried to make out that he didn't mind losing his job, but friends suspected he was desperately worried
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to derive
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
as best as I can make out, the police were informed of the incident but didn't think it was worth investigating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of make out
Kelsey created a water storage cistern made out of a strip of tarp and rocks.
Douglas, meanwhile, scored mega bushcraft points for building his own water storage unit out of a massive agave root.
—
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 27 June 2025
This led to a steamy make out session in the secluded daybed, which is notorious for intimate moments on the series.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 June 2025
As a share of after-tax income, that group would make out best.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
The video shows sudden movement in a tent, and eventually, viewers can make out two figures interacting with one another.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 27 June 2025
This led to a steamy make out session in the secluded daybed, which is notorious for intimate moments on the series.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 June 2025
As a share of after-tax income, that group would make out best.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
The video shows sudden movement in a tent, and eventually, viewers can make out two figures interacting with one another.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for make out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make out
Verb
-
With over 660 comments on the viral TikTok video, internet users can't cope with Nicole's way of cheering up her granddog.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
-
This includes positive coping strategies such as reframing negative thoughts, practicing grounding techniques and seeking professional mental health support.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The human role is now to understand what to ask the models for the best results, and to iron out the inevitable problems that crop up along the way.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
15 July 2025
-
Unlike other coastal destinations that easily succumb to high-rise condos, touristy restaurants, and run-of-the-mill souvenir shops, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea understands that growth doesn’t always equal progress.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Your audience sees through attempts to brag while pretending to be humble.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
The scams might start out with a text from someone pretending to be a government official, such as a local sheriff.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Employers believe that workers in specific departments, like sales and marketing (85%) and human resources (78%), will derive significant value from AI implementation.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Getty Images The Beehive State derives its nickname from the industriousness of its workforce.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
In complex or regulated environments, speed matters, but so does cross-functional orchestration that accounts for the nuances of the situation.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
There are many ways to do this—on an external hard drive, in the cloud, Dropbox, iCloud, and Amazon Photos, which is free with Prime membership.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
That gap can cause marketing to keep optimizing based on CPC or CPL without knowing which leads actually move forward in the funnel.—
Ron Browning,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
But once Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) locks Superman (David Corenswet) away in a secret prison in a pocket universe, Terrific decides to help Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) find Superman.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
15 July 2025
-
In 2016 Norway’s Parliament decided on a national goal that all new cars sold by 2025 should be ZEVs and the country mobilized policy to achieve that target.—
Margo T. Oge,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Imagine walking into your doctor’s office feeling sick – and rather than flipping through pages of your medical history or running tests that take days, your doctor instantly pulls together data from your health records, genetic profile and wearable devices to help decipher what’s wrong.—
Turgay Ayer,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
-
Throughout the 20th century, as ruins plunder shifted to protecting the cliff dwellings, archaeologists tried to decipher the remnants and make amends with the descendants, while understanding the ancient situation that prompted this mass migration.—
Mike Bezemek,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20out. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share