make · v
make (EARN)
B2 to earn
Dictionary examples:
She makes around $80,000 a year as a doctor. (16.2)
How do you make a living as a painter? (29.2)
Both companies have made huge profits/losses. (35.9)
make the/sb's bed
B2 to put sheets and covers on a bed or to make the sheets and covers on a bed neat
Dictionary examples:
Did you make the bed? (19.3)
The kids don't always have time to make their beds before school. (26.6)
make the most of sth
B2 to take full advantage of something because it may not last long
Dictionary examples:
We should make the most of this good weather. (33.1)
make the best of sth
B2 to try to be positive about a situation you do not like but cannot change
Dictionary examples:
Our hotel room is pretty small, but we'll just have to make the best of it. (30.1)
make a (big) difference ()
B2 to improve a situation (a lot)
Dictionary examples:
Exercise can make a big difference to your health. (50.1)
to make matters worse
B2 to make a situation more difficult, unpleasant, etc.
Dictionary examples:
To make matters worse, our car broke down! (25.8)
make a fool (out) of sb ()
B2 to make someone look stupid intentionally
Dictionary examples:
She was always trying to make a fool out of me in front of my friends. (31.2)
make a fool of yourself ()
B2 to behave in a silly or embarrassing way
Dictionary examples:
I got very excited and made a fool of myself. (25.9)
make fun of sb/sth
B2 to make a joke about someone or something in an unkind way
Dictionary examples:
The other children at school used to make fun of his hair. (21.9)
make sense
B2 to have a meaning or reason that you can understand
Dictionary examples:
He's written me this note but it doesn't make any sense. (19.7)
make sense
B2 to be a good thing to do
Dictionary examples:
It makes sense to buy now while prices are low. (27.5)
make time
C1 to leave enough time to do something although you are busy
Dictionary examples:
You have to make time to do your homework. (11.8)
He never made enough time for family life. (20.2)
make (SUITABLE)
C1 to have the necessary qualities to become something
Dictionary examples:
He would make a really good dad. (7.7)
I wouldn't make a very good lawyer. (15.2)
It's a very exciting story - it would make a great film. (35.8)
make it (big)
C1 to be successful
Dictionary examples:
Very few actors actually make it. (15.7)
Fe made it big in the music business. (18.6)
make ends meet
C1 to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need
Dictionary examples:
I had to get a second job just to make ends meet. (25.2)
make yourself at home
C1 to behave in a relaxed way in a place, as if it was your own home
Dictionary examples:
Take off your coat and make yourself at home. (19.0)
make a note of sth
C1 to write down information about something
Dictionary examples:
Let me make a note of your phone number. (11.3)
make yourself understood
C1 to say something to someone in a way that they understand
Dictionary examples:
I had a little difficulty making myself understood. (20.7)
to make a long story short
C1 to mention only the final result or point of something without going into other details
Dictionary examples:
To make a long story short, he never played baseball again. (18.0)
make do (with)
C2 to use something that is less good than you would like
Dictionary examples:
If we can't get a bigger room we'll have to make do with this. (18.6)
make light of sth
C2 to talk or behave as if you do not think a problem is serious
Dictionary examples:
I just laughed and tried to make light of it. (29.1)
make allowances for sb/sth
C2 to remember that someone has a disadvantage which is not their fault when you are judging their behavior or work
Dictionary examples:
They made allowances for the fact that he was ill. (54.3)
make your blood run cold
C2 If something makes your blood run cold, it frightens you very much.
Dictionary examples:
I heard a tapping on the window which made my blood run cold. (59.9)
make your blood boil
C2 to make you extremely angry
Dictionary examples:
The way they have treated those people makes my blood boil. (35.8)
make sb's day
C2 to make someone very happy
Dictionary examples:
Seeing those little kids having so much fun just made my day. (18.6)
make light of sth
C2 to talk or behave as if you do not think a problem is serious
Dictionary examples:
I just laughed and tried to make light of it. (29.1)
make a name for yourself
C2 to become famous or respected by a lot of people
Dictionary examples:
He's been trying to make a name for himself in the music business. (27.9)
make your presence felt
C2 to have a strong effect on other people
Dictionary examples:
The new police chief has really made his presence felt. (46.3)
make a run for it
C2 to suddenly run fast in order to escape from somewhere
Dictionary examples:
When he saw the open door, he made a run for it. (34.8)
make waves
C2 to cause problems by asking difficult questions or criticizing
Dictionary examples:
He has earned a reputation for making waves during political campaigns. (47.1)
make your way
C2 to be successful and make progress in your work
Dictionary examples:
He managed to make his way in the film industry. (36.5)
make way for sth
C2 to be replaced by someone or something
Dictionary examples:
They knocked down the old houses to make way for a new hotel. (31.4)
make sense of sth
C2 to understand something that is difficult to understand
Dictionary examples:
I'm trying to make sense of this document. (19.4)
make a splash
C2 to get a lot of public attention
Dictionary examples:
The movie made quite a splash in the US. (35.4)
make sure
A2 to take action so that you are certain that something happens
Dictionary examples:
Make sure you don't accidentally eat your eraser during the test! (0.0)
I'll make sure my cat doesn't eat my homework again. (0.0)
Make sure you don't wear your pants backwards to school! (0.0)
I'll just make sure I've turned the oven off. (26.5)
Make sure you're home by midnight. (29.4)
make (PRODUCE)
A1 to produce or create something
Dictionary examples:
He makes jokes, but no one laughs. (0.0)
Let's make silly noises together! (0.0)
I make my bed with pillows. (0.0)
I make funny faces during boring classes. (0.0)
I make funny faces in the mirror. (0.0)
Can you make a funny dance now? (0.0)
He makes music with spoons. (0.0)
She makes pizza with chocolate sauce. (0.0)
Can you make a silly song? (0.0)
Shall I make some coffee? (5.8)
He made us some lunch. (8.4)
She makes all her own clothes. (12.5)
John Huston made some great films. (24.0)
He works for a company that makes garden furniture. (26.8)
make (ARRIVE)
B1 to manage to arrive at a place
Dictionary examples:
He made the meeting, but his tie was still at home. (0.0)
He made it to work, but his brain was still sleeping. (0.0)
She made it to the gym, but her motivation didn't. (0.0)
She made it to the airport just in time to catch her plane. (16.4)
I'm afraid I can't make the meeting this afternoon. (22.9)
make (PERFORM)
A2 to perform an action
Dictionary examples:
He made a dance move that looked like a chicken! (0.0)
I made a funny face, and my cat ran away! (0.0)
I made a promise to my dog to buy more treats. (0.0)
He's not making any effort. (12.7)
Someone's made a mistake. (12.8)
I must make a telephone call. (13.6)
She made a short speech. (16.7)
Have you made a decision about your job yet? (17.1)
Have you made a doctor's appointment? (22.2)
Can I make a suggestion? (24.0)
Shall we make a start on the work? (27.4)
make (CAUSE)
B1 to cause something to happen or cause a particular state
Dictionary examples:
His terrible puns make everyone groan and roll their eyes simultaneously. (0.0)
The smell of my cooking makes my cat hide under the bed. (0.0)
My attempt at speaking French makes native speakers cry with laughter. (0.0)
This photograph makes me look about 80! (10.2)
What made you change your mind? (14.8)
This heat makes me very tired. (15.9)
It makes me so angry when he says that. (20.3)
He really makes me laugh. (21.9)
make sb do sth
B1 to force someone or something to do something
Dictionary examples:
The teacher made the class sing 'Baby Shark' for being noisy. (0.0)
The boss made the team wear funny hats during the meeting. (0.0)
The smell of pizza made everyone in the office stop working. (0.0)
I made him clean his room. (10.5)
You can't make him go if he doesn't want to. (11.3)
make up your mind or make your mind up
B1 to make a decision
Dictionary examples:
I made up my mind to learn cooking. Now the fire alarm is my biggest fan! (0.0)
I can't make up my mind: pizza or burger? My stomach is screaming both! (0.0)
Make your mind up: karaoke or silent movie? Your friends' ears are waiting! (0.0)
They couldn't make their minds up about where to go on holiday. (25.6)
I haven't made up my mind whether to apply for the job yet. (28.3)
make a face ()
B1 to show with your face that you do not like someone or something
Dictionary examples:
The student made a face when he saw his math test score. (0.0)
The teacher made a face when a student said the Earth was flat. (0.0)
The chef made a face when a customer asked for ketchup on steak. (0.0)
Joe made a face when he saw what was for lunch. (20.9)
make friends (with sb)
B1 to begin to know and like someone
Dictionary examples:
Lisa made friends with her plants, but they never responded to her jokes. (0.0)
Sarah made friends with her reflection, but it always copied her moves. (0.0)
The penguin tried to make friends at the beach, but everyone thought he was overdressed. (0.0)
He finds it difficult to make friends. (10.6)
He's made friends with a boy in his class called Alex. (18.3)
be made from/(out) of sth
A2 to be produced from a substance or material
Dictionary examples:
My sister's wedding cake was made out of cheese wheels! (0.0)
The new car was made out of chocolate. It melted! (0.0)
His birthday cake was made out of vegetables. Yuck! (0.0)
There were bowls made of pure gold. (19.8)
They make furniture out of steel. (26.2)
Butter is made from milk. (43.7)