MAKE is one of the most common verbs in English. You already know how to use it in simple sentences like “I make breakfast” or “She makes a lot of money.” But MAKE also forms more phrasal verbs, and each one has its own meaning.
Native English speakers use these phrasal verbs every day. You will hear them in conversations, TV shows, and at work. Learning them will help you understand English better and sound more natural when you speak.
In this guide, you will learn the most important phrasal verbs with MAKE, with clear definitions, easy example sentences, and grammar rules.
What Are Phrasal Verbs with MAKE?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two small words called particles. These particles are prepositions or adverbs like up, out, off, and over. When you add a particle to a verb, the meaning often changes completely.
For example:
- Make = to create or produce something
- Make up = to invent a story, OR to become friends again after a fight, OR to apply cosmetics
Adding the word “up” gives MAKE three completely different meanings. This is what makes phrasal verbs both interesting and challenging.
MAKE combines with many particles: up, out, over, off, do, for, of, and away. Some phrasal verbs with MAKE have more than one meaning, so context is important.
If you want to understand how phrasal verbs work in general, read our guide on What Are Phrasal Verbs and Why Are They Important? It covers the basics in simple English and is a good starting point for beginners.
Complete List of Phrasal Verbs with MAKE
1. Make Up
Make up is the most common phrasal verb with MAKE. It has four main meanings.
Meaning 1: To invent a story, excuse, or lie
“He was late, so he made up an excuse about missing the bus.”
“Don’t believe her. She made that story up.”
Meaning 2: To become friends again after an argument
“They had a big fight, but they made up the next day.”
“I am sorry for what I said. Can we make up?”
Meaning 3: To apply cosmetics
“She spent 20 minutes making up her face before the party.”
“He was made up by a professional artist for the film.”
Meaning 4: To compensate for something you missed
“I missed the exam, so I need to make up the test next week.”
“We worked on Saturday to make up for the lost time.”
💡 Tip: The noun “makeup” comes from this phrasal verb. “She bought new makeup” means she bought cosmetics.
2. Make Out
Make out has several meanings. Pay attention to the context so you use the right one.
Meaning 1: To understand or hear something with difficulty
“The music was so loud, I could not make out what he was saying.”
“Can you make out the writing on that sign? It is too far away.”
Meaning 2: To claim or pretend something is true
“She made out that she was sick, but I think she did not want to come.”
“The situation was not as bad as they made it out to be.”
Meaning 3: To kiss romantically (more common in American English)
“I saw them making out in the park.”
Meaning 4: To write a cheque or official document
“Please make out the cheque to City Hospital.”
⚠️ British vs American English: In British English, “make out” most often means to understand or claim. In American English, people also use it to mean kissing.
3. Make Do
Make do means to manage with something that is not perfect or not enough. You use it when you do not have exactly what you need, but you use what you have.
“We did not have butter, so we made do with olive oil.”
“The hotel room was small, but we made do.”
“During the war, people had to make do with very little food.”
💡 Common expression: “Make do and mend” is a famous British phrase from World War II. It means to repair old things instead of buying new ones.
4. Make Over
Make over has two meanings.
Meaning 1: To completely change someone’s appearance
“The TV show made over 10 people in one episode.”
“She was made over by a team of stylists before the photoshoot.”
Meaning 2: To officially transfer ownership of something
“He made over his property to his daughter before he died.”
💡 Note: The noun “makeover” is very common in everyday English. “She got a makeover” means her appearance was completely transformed.
5. Make Off / Make Away With
These two phrasal verbs are often used in news reports and crime stories.
Make off = to escape or leave quickly
“The thief made off before the police arrived.”
“They robbed the bank and made off in a stolen car.”
Make away with = to steal something and escape with it
“The burglars made away with jewellery worth thousands of dollars.”
“Someone made away with my bicycle while I was in the shop.”
6. Make For
Make for has two meanings.
Meaning 1: To move towards a place
“After the concert, everyone made for the exit.”
“She grabbed her bag and made for the door.”
Meaning 2: To contribute to a result
“Good communication makes for a strong team.”
“Too much sugar makes for an unhealthy diet.”
7. Make Of
Make of is used to ask for or give an opinion about something. You will often see it in questions.
“What do you make of the new teacher?” (= What is your opinion?)
“I do not know what to make of his behaviour.” (= I do not understand it)
“She did not know what to make of the strange letter.”
8. Make Into
Make into means to transform something into something else.
“They made the old factory into a modern apartment building.”
“The book was made into a successful film.”
“She made her spare room into a home office.”
9. Make Up For
Make up for means to compensate for something negative. You use it when you want to correct a mistake or replace something lost.
“He bought her flowers to make up for forgetting her birthday.”
“Nothing can make up for the time we lost.”
“She worked extra hours to make up for her absence.”
10. Make It
Make it means to succeed, to arrive on time, or to survive a difficult situation.
“I am not sure I can make it to the party tonight.” (= arrive)
“She worked very hard and finally made it as a singer.” (= succeeded)
“The doctors were not sure he would make it.” (= survive)
Separable or Inseparable? Grammar Rules
This is an important grammar point. Some phrasal verbs with MAKE are separable. This means you can put the object between the verb and the particle.
Separable examples:
- “She made up a story.”
- “She made a story up.”
- “She made it up.” (pronoun MUST go in the middle)
Inseparable examples:
- “What do you make of this?” (correct)
- “What do you make this of?” (wrong)
Here is a quick reference table:
| Phrasal Verb | Separable? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Make up | Yes | Make it up. Make up a story. |
| Make out | Yes | Make it out. Make out the words. |
| Make over | Yes | Make her over. Make over the room. |
| Make into | Yes | Make it into a film. |
| Make up for | No | Make up for the mistake. |
| Make of | No | What do you make of it? |
| Make for | No | Make for the exit. |
| Make do | No | Make do with less. |
⚠️ Important rule: When you use a pronoun (it, him, her, them), it must always go between the verb and the particle for separable phrasal verbs.
- “Make it up” (correct)
- “Make up it” (wrong)
If you want to learn more about separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, read our full guide on Separable vs Inseparable Phrasal Verbs. It includes more examples and practice exercises.
MAKE Phrasal Verbs in Context
Read this short story. See how many phrasal verbs with MAKE you can find.
Anna missed an important meeting at work. She needed to make up for it. She decided to stay late and finish the report her boss needed.
On her way home, she walked past a TV studio. A crowd was making for the entrance. A famous singer was inside. Anna could not make out who it was because there were too many people.
When she got home, her flatmate was watching a makeover show. “They really made that woman over,” her flatmate said. “She looks completely different!”
Anna smiled. She was tired, but she had made it through a difficult day. She decided to make do with leftovers for dinner and go to bed early.
How many phrasal verbs did you find? (Answer: make up for, making for, make out, made over, made it, make do)
Common Mistakes with MAKE Phrasal Verbs
Here are the most common errors English learners make.
Mistake 1: Confusing the meanings of “make up”
Be specific about which meaning you intend. “Make up” means to reconcile, to invent, or to apply cosmetics. The context tells you which one.
Mistake 2: Wrong pronoun placement
- “She made up it.” (wrong)
- “She made it up.” (correct)
Mistake 3: Using “make out” in the wrong context
In American English, “I made out the instructions” sounds romantic. Use “I could make out the instructions” to mean you understood them.
Mistake 4: Confusing “make up for” and “make up”
- “He bought flowers to make up the argument.” (wrong)
- “He bought flowers to make up for the argument.” (correct)
Tips to Remember MAKE Phrasal Verbs
- Study all MAKE phrasal verbs together, not one at a time.
- Always learn a phrasal verb with an example sentence, not just a definition.
- Write a short paragraph using as many MAKE phrasal verbs as you can.
- Use flashcards. Write the phrasal verb on one side and the meaning plus an example on the other.
- Watch films and read articles in English. Look for MAKE phrasal verbs when you see them.
- Ask a friend or teacher to quiz you.
Phrasal verbs appear in many areas of everyday life. If you work in an office or do business in English, read our guide on Business English Phrasal Verbs. It covers the most useful phrasal verbs for professional situations.
Now You Know the Phrasal Verbs with MAKE
You learned key phrasal verbs: make up, make out, make do, make over, make off, make for, make of, make into, make up for, and make it. You also learned the grammar rules, common mistakes, and tips to help you remember them.
The best way to improve is to practise. Try writing your own sentences using these phrasal verbs. Look for them the next time you watch a film or read something in English.
When you feel ready, move on to our next guide: Phrasal Verbs with GET. It covers another group of essential phrasal verbs that native speakers use every day.
If you want to test your knowledge, try our Phrasal Verbs Quizzes. They are free and cover many different topics and verb groups.
