make out
B2Informal for romantic meaning; neutral for other senses.
Definition
Meaning
To manage to see, hear, or understand something with difficulty.
To engage in prolonged, passionate kissing and caressing; to succeed, progress, or fare in a particular way (e.g., 'How did you make out on the test?'); to fill out or complete a form; to imply, claim, or represent something to be true.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning is highly context-dependent. The romantic/intimate sense is dominant in informal conversation, while other senses are more common in specific formal contexts (e.g., paperwork).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The romantic/intimate sense ('to kiss passionately') is far more common and established in American English. British English more readily uses other senses, though the romantic sense is understood.
Connotations
In AmE, the phrase immediately suggests heavy kissing/petting. In BrE, it can more neutrally mean 'to discern' or 'to succeed' without that primary connotation.
Frequency
Collins Corpus data shows the 'understand/discern' sense is 4x more frequent in UK English than US English. The romantic sense is about 2.5x more frequent in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
make out + NP (I can't make out the words)make out + that-clause (He made out that he was busy)make out + wh-clause (See if you can make out what it says)make out + to INF (She made out to be an expert)make out + ADV (How did you make out at the interview?)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make out like a bandit (to be very successful)”
- “make out a case for (to argue convincingly for something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To complete a document: 'Please make out the invoice to our head office.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in literary analysis: 'The reader must make out the symbolism from sparse clues.'
Everyday
Dominantly the romantic sense (AmE) or the 'see/discern' sense (BrE): 'It was dark, so I couldn't make out his face.' / 'They were making out in the back of the car.'
Technical
Not typical in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Can you make out what that sign says in the fog?
- He made out he had a prior engagement to avoid the meeting.
- How did you make out with your visa application?
American English
- The teenagers were making out in the cinema.
- I could barely make out the road through the heavy rain.
- Make the cheque out to 'City Utilities'.
adjective
American English
- It was a classic make-out scene in the movie.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can make out a big tree in the garden.
- Make out this form, please.
- It's too noisy; I can't make out what she's saying.
- How did you make out at the doctor's?
- The letter was faded, making it difficult to make out the address.
- He made out that the accident wasn't his fault.
- Critics have made out a compelling case for reforming the system.
- Despite the static, the pilot could just make out the control tower's instructions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine trying to MAKE a puzzle OUT - you're trying to make the picture out from the pieces. Or, to MAKE someone's face OUT in the fog.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (I see what you mean) / LOVE IS PHYSICAL PROXIMITY
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить напрямую как 'делать вне'. Для 'целоваться' использовать 'kiss passionately'. Для 'разобрать/различить' - 'make out' подходит только при трудностях, иначе просто 'see' или 'hear'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'see' without the element of difficulty: ❌'I made out a bird in the clear sky.' ✅'I saw a bird...'
- Confusing 'make out' (kiss) with 'make up' (reconcile, invent).
- Using the romantic sense in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'make out' have a romantic/intimate meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has several meanings. The romantic meaning is common in informal American English, but it also means 'to discern with difficulty' or 'to complete a form'.
Yes, especially in British English and in administrative contexts, it means to fill out or complete a form or document.
'Make out' usually implies sensory perception (seeing/hearing) despite difficulty. 'Figure out' implies solving a problem or understanding through thinking.
The 'discern' and 'complete document' senses can be used in formal contexts. The romantic/intimate sense is strictly informal and should be avoided in formal writing.