The verb MAKE creates powerful phrasal verbs for creation and achievement. From making up stories to making it to success, this family covers producing, causing, completing, understanding, relationships, and time management. Master these phrasal verbs and you'll express creation and accomplishment like a native speaker.
Meaning: To create or invent, apply cosmetics, compensate for something, reconcile
"She likes to make up stories for her children."
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"I need to make up for lost time on this project."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very versatile: inventing, cosmetics, compensating, or reconciling.
Meaning: To understand or see clearly, to manage or succeed, to write/fill out
"I can't make out what he's saying from here."
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"How did you make out on your exam?"
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Context determines meaning: seeing, understanding, or performing.
Meaning: To transform something into something else
"They made the garage into a home office."
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"The book was made into a successful movie."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Always implies transformation or conversion from one form to another.
Meaning: To redesign or renovate, to transfer ownership
"We're going to make over the living room."
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"He made over his property to his children."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Common in home improvement and legal contexts.
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You've mastered the MAKE family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To force or cause someone to do something
"The teacher made us stay after school."
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"This movie always makes me cry."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can imply force, influence, or natural causation.
Meaning: To pretend or imagine something is true
"Children love to make believe they're superheroes."
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"Let's make believe we're on a tropical island."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used with children's games and imaginative play.
Meaning: To ensure something happens or is done correctly
"Make sure you lock the door before leaving."
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"I want to make sure I understand this correctly."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for giving instructions and expressing certainty.
Meaning: To cause something to occur or be successful
"We need to make this project happen."
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"Her determination made her dreams happen."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Implies active effort to achieve goals or results.
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You've mastered the MAKE family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To succeed, arrive on time, survive a difficult situation
"She finally made it as a professional singer."
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"Can you make it to the meeting by 3 PM?"
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very common for success, punctuality, and survival contexts.
Meaning: To survive or endure a difficult period
"We'll make it through this tough time together."
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"He made it through his first year of college."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used for overcoming challenges or difficult periods.
Meaning: To succeed, fulfill a promise, or compensate for damage
"He made good on his promise to help us."
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"The insurance will make good the damage."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Formal expression often used for promises and compensation.
Meaning: To advance or improve in something
"The students are making good progress in English."
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"We're making slow but steady progress on the project."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for describing improvement and advancement.
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You've mastered the MAKE family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To be logical, understandable, or reasonable
"Your explanation doesn't make sense to me."
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"It makes sense to save money for the future."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
One of the most frequently used expressions in English.
Meaning: To explain something so it's easily understood
"Let me make it clear that this is not acceptable."
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"The teacher made the instructions very clear."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used for emphasizing important points or rules.
Meaning: To understand or interpret something
"What do you make of this strange message?"
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"I don't know what to make of his behavior."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Used when trying to understand or interpret something confusing.
Meaning: To establish friendships with people
"It's easy to make friends when you're friendly."
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"She made friends quickly at her new school."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for social situations and relationship building.
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You've mastered the MAKE family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To reconcile after an argument or disagreement
"They made up with each other after the fight."
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"I want to make up with my sister."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Important for resolving conflicts in relationships.
Meaning: To tease or mock someone in a playful or mean way
"Don't make fun of his accent - that's not nice."
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"They always make fun of my cooking."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can be playful or hurtful depending on context and intent.
Meaning: To set aside time for something important
"I need to make time for exercise in my schedule."
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"Can you make time to meet this week?"
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Shows prioritization and conscious time management.
Meaning: To create space for something or someone
"Please make room for one more person at the table."
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"I need to make room in my closet for new clothes."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can be literal (physical space) or figurative (time, priorities).
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Meaning: To move aside to let someone pass, to be replaced by something new
"Make way for the ambulance!"
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"Old traditions are making way for modern practices."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can mean physical movement or metaphorical replacement.