make
make — verb
1. to create or build something by working with materials or combining parts; also
to create or build something by working with materials or combining parts; also used for preparing food or drink
Constanza made a beautiful wooden table for her daughter's bedroom.
make + object + for + person (indirect object)
Arjun made his younger brother a simple wooden toy for his birthday.
make + indirect object + direct object (recipient first)
The children made a big pile of leaves in the garden with a rake.
Feng made himself a cup of tea before starting work.
make + indirect object + direct object (two objects)
- make a cake
- make a table
- make a fire
- make a bed
- make breakfast
- make a nest
Grammar Patterns
make + object
make + indirect object + direct object
Usage Note
Can take two objects: 'She made him a sandwich' or 'She made a sandwich for him.' The indirect object (the person receiving) can come before or after the direct object.
Common Mistakes
2. to create a film, television programme, piece of music, or other artistic work t
to create a film, television programme, piece of music, or other artistic work through directing, producing, writing, or performing
The studio made a documentary about the history of jazz music in New Orleans.
make a documentary / make a film
Asher is making a short film for his final school project this term.
That famous actor made twelve movies before she turned forty.
The theatre group made a wonderful show that ran for three months in London.
make a show / make a play
- make a film
- make a movie
- make a documentary
- make a record
- make a television programme
- make a video
Grammar Patterns
make + film/programme/record
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1 (PRODUCE), this sense refers specifically to creating media or artistic works rather than physical objects made from materials.
Common Mistakes
3. to bring a particular situation, event, feeling, or reaction into being through
to bring a particular situation, event, feeling, or reaction into being through an action or event
The loud music from next door made Hamza's head ache all evening.
make + object + bare infinitive (cause someone to feel/do something)
Kemi's funny story made everyone at the dinner table laugh out loud.
The heavy rain made driving on the highway very dangerous last night.
Diya's kind words made a big difference to how Anjali felt about the move.
make a difference (fixed phrase)
- make a noise
- make a sound
- make a mess
- make trouble
- make a difference
- make someone laugh
- make someone feel good
Grammar Patterns
make + object + bare infinitive
make + object + noun/adj
Usage Note
When followed by an object and a verb, the second verb has no 'to' (bare infinitive): 'The music made her cry' (NOT 'made her to cry'). Distinguish from sense 6 (FORCE), where the causation is against the subject's will.
Common Mistakes
4. to cause a person or thing to enter a particular state, take on a role, or becom
to cause a person or thing to enter a particular state, take on a role, or become a certain kind of thing — for example, making a room clean, making someone happy, or making someone a team leader
The warm sunshine made Élise feel happy after weeks of cold winter rain.
make + object + adjective (cause to feel a certain way)
The committee made Ritu the new head of the research team.
make + object + noun (appoint/elect someone as something)
Christopher made his opinions very clear during the staff meeting.
Nellie made herself understood by using simple words and hand gestures.
make + object + past participle (cause to be understood/heard/known)
- make someone happy
- make something clear
- make something public
- make someone king/president/captain
- make something known
- make someone feel welcome
- cause to become
more formal and explicit about the change of state
- render
formal; implies a transformation, often permanent
- appoint
specifically for giving someone a position or role
Grammar Patterns
make + object + adjective
make + object + noun
make + object + past participle
Usage Note
Subject is commonly a person, an event, or a situation. The complement after the object can be an adjective ('make it bigger'), a noun ('make him captain'), or a past participle ('make herself heard'). Distinguish from sense 3 (CAUSE), where the focus is on causing an event/reaction — here the focus is on changing a state or identity.
Common Mistakes
5. to do the necessary steps so that a particular result is achieved or a condition
to do the necessary steps so that a particular result is achieved or a condition is met
Please make sure you lock the front door before you leave the house.
make sure + that-clause (ensure something happens)
Romi made certain that every guest had a seat before the show began.
Sade made it clear that she would not accept any late submissions.
make it + adjective + that-clause
The teacher made sure all the students understood the homework before the bell rang.
- make sure
- make certain
- make it clear that
- make it plain that
Grammar Patterns
make sure + that-clause
make certain + that-clause
make + it + adjective + that-clause
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used in the fixed expressions 'make sure' and 'make certain'. The that-clause following can omit 'that' in informal English: 'Make sure you lock the door.' The pattern 'make it + adjective + that-clause' (make it clear that...) is also common and belongs to this sense.
Common Mistakes
6. to use your authority as a parent, teacher, employer, or other person in power t
to use your authority as a parent, teacher, employer, or other person in power to force someone to do something they do not want to do
Sergeant Cole made the new recruits clean the locker room before the inspection.
make + object + bare infinitive (military authority)
Heather's parents made her finish her homework before she could go out.
The head teacher made Camila stay after school to rewrite her essay.
make + object + bare infinitive (school authority)
Grandmother Mira made the children take a short nap after lunch every day.
make + object + bare infinitive (familial authority)
- make someone work
- make someone wait
- make someone stay
- make someone do something they do not want to do
Grammar Patterns
make + object + bare infinitive
Usage Note
The grammatical structure is the same as sense 3 (CAUSE) — 'make + object + bare infinitive' — but the meaning is different. In this sense, the action happens because the subject has authority or circumstances leave no choice. In sense 3, the action is a natural result or effect, not a matter of force.
Common Mistakes
7. to describe a situation or set of circumstances that leaves a person with no rea
to describe a situation or set of circumstances that leaves a person with no real alternative but to act in a certain way, often against their wishes
The storm made the whole family leave their home and go to a shelter.
make + object + bare infinitive for causation
The sudden snowstorm made all the drivers pull over and wait for help.
circumstances compel action with no alternative
Takeshi was made to wait for over an hour at the clinic.
passive: be made to + infinitive
The bus strike made Takeshi walk four miles to reach his morning class on time.
circumstances compel action with no alternative
- make someone wait
- make someone cry
- make someone laugh
- make someone leave
- make someone apologize
- was made to feel
- prevent
To stop someone from doing something rather than making them do it
Grammar Patterns
make + noun/pronoun + verb (base form)
be made to + infinitive
Usage Note
In the active voice, the verb after 'make' has no 'to' (bare infinitive): 'She made him wait.' In the passive, 'to' reappears: 'He was made to wait.' Do not confuse with 'cause' or 'force', which always take the to-infinitive.
Common Mistakes
8. to do a specific action, movement, or task, especially one that has a clear aim
to do a specific action, movement, or task, especially one that has a clear aim or purpose
Élise made a funny face when she tasted the sour lemon.
collocation: make a face
The prime minister made a speech about jobs and the economy.
collocation: make a speech
Joshua made a promise to call his grandmother every Sunday.
Heloísa made a quick decision to take the train instead of the bus.
collocation: make a decision
The car made a strange noise when Hugo turned the key in the morning.
collocation: make a noise/sound
- make a decision
- make a promise
- make a speech
- make a noise
- make a sound
- make a move
- make a face
- make a gesture
- make a choice
Grammar Patterns
make + noun (decision / promise / speech / move / face / sound)
Usage Note
This sense combines with a wide range of nouns to describe specific actions. Common pairings include 'make a decision', 'make a promise', 'make a speech', 'make a move', 'make a sound', and 'make a face'. These are fixed collocations — 'do a speech' or 'take a promise' would sound unnatural.
Common Mistakes
9. to move yourself or shift objects so that an empty area becomes available for so
to move yourself or shift objects so that an empty area becomes available for someone or something else to use or pass through
Shirin made room on the shelf for her new collection of novels.
collocation: make room for
The crowd quickly made way for the ambulance to drive through.
collocation: make way for
Lakshmi made space in her bag for the lunch her mother had packed.
Could you please make some room on the table for these plates?
- make room for
- make space for
- make way for
- make room on
- make space in
- block
To prevent movement or access rather than allowing it
Grammar Patterns
make room / make space / make way + for + noun
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used with one of three nouns: 'room', 'space', or 'way'. 'Make way' is the most fixed expression and often implies urgency or respect. 'Make room' and 'make space' are more general and can refer to physical or abstract arrangement.
10. to restore a bed to a neat state by pulling the sheets and covers smooth after s
to restore a bed to a neat state by pulling the sheets and covers smooth after someone has slept there
Nia makes her bed every morning before leaving for school.
present simple for daily routine
The hotel cleaner made the bed and placed a small chocolate on the pillow.
Aunt Rosa told the children to make their beds before going outside to play.
Sahil forgot to make his bed, so his mother called him back to do it.
- make the bed
- make your bed
- make my bed
- made the beds
Grammar Patterns
make + (possessive) + bed
Usage Note
This is a fixed expression. 'Make the bed' is the standard way to describe tidying it after sleeping. 'Do the bed' or 'fix the bed' are not used in standard English for this meaning.
Common Mistakes
11. to produce a particular number or amount when all the separate parts are added t
to produce a particular number or amount when all the separate parts are added together
Five plus seven makes twelve, but the calculator showed thirteen.
make + number for basic arithmetic
The donations from the charity event made a total of ¥50,000.
The repair costs for the two cars made nearly three thousand dollars.
This year's sales make up sixty percent of the company's income.
phrasal variation: make up + percentage
- make a total of
- make up...percent
- makes five
- make ¥10,000
Grammar Patterns
make + number/amount
make + percentage
Usage Note
This sense is often used without a human subject — the numbers or items being added are the subject. 'Two and two makes four' is the standard phrasing, though 'make' (plural) is also common in informal usage.
Common Mistakes
12. to calculate, guess, or decide that someone or something has a particular age, s
to calculate, guess, or decide that someone or something has a particular age, speed, value, or meaning based on available information
The archaeologist made the old vase to be about two thousand years old.
make + object + to be + complement
Yan made the distance between the two towns at roughly fifty kilometers.
make + object + at + number
I make the total damage from the flood at over two million dollars.
What do you make the time — is it nearly ten o'clock already?
colloquial: make the time
- make something at
- make something to be
- make the time
- make the distance
Grammar Patterns
make + noun/pronoun + noun (e.g. make something 500)
make + noun/pronoun + adjective (e.g. make something clear)
Usage Note
This sense has a slightly formal tone and is most common in British English. It typically appears with a prepositional phrase ('at ¥200', 'to be old') rather than with a direct number alone. 'What do you make the time?' is a fixed informal expression asking someone to guess or estimate the current time.
13. to receive money as payment for your work, or to obtain something through your o
to receive money as payment for your work, or to obtain something through your own effort
Ife made over fifty thousand dollars in her first year as a nurse.
collocation: make money / make a living
The small bakery makes most of its profit from weekend customers.
Yan made a comfortable living by selling his landscape paintings online.
collocation: make a living
Hamza made enough money from part-time tutoring to buy a used car.
- make money
- make a profit
- make a living
- make a fortune
- lose
to fail to keep or obtain money
Usage Note
Object is typically money, a profit, or a living. Frequently used in work and business contexts.
Common Mistakes
14. to successfully reach a place or an event, especially when time is limited or th
to successfully reach a place or an event, especially when time is limited or the journey involves difficulty
The express train from Paris made the station five minutes ahead of schedule.
collocation: make the station / make the train
If we leave now, we should still make the eight o'clock show downtown.
The hikers made the mountain shelter just before the storm hit the area.
Emily made the meeting on time despite the heavy traffic on the freeway.
collocation: make the meeting / make a deadline
- make the train
- make the meeting
- make a deadline
- make the show
- miss
to fail to reach a place or event before it starts or departs
Usage Note
Object is a destination, a scheduled event, or a deadline. Often used with time-related phrases such as 'on time', 'in time', or 'ahead of schedule'.
Common Mistakes
15. to succeed in obtaining a position on a sports team, in a competition, or within
to succeed in obtaining a position on a sports team, in a competition, or within a selective group
Otis trained every day for months and finally made the school basketball team.
collocation: make the team / make the squad
A broken ankle meant that Shanti could not make the Olympic swimming squad.
The coach announced that Christopher made the starting lineup for Friday's game.
Only the top three runners from each region will make the national team.
collocation: make the national team
- make the team
- make the squad
- make the lineup
- make the cut
- get into
more general, not limited to sports or competition
- qualify for
implies meeting a specific standard or requirement
Usage Note
Object is a team, squad, lineup, or similar competitive group. Used primarily in sports and selection contexts, implying a competitive process.
Common Mistakes
16. to be reported in the news as an important or interesting story
to be reported in the news as an important or interesting story
The earthquake in Japan made the front page of every major newspaper.
collocation: make the front page / make headlines
A story about the local animal shelter made the evening news last night.
The celebrity wedding made headlines around the world for several days.
collocation: make headlines
The small fishing village made the news when its harbour was rebuilt after the storm.
- make the news
- make headlines
- make the front page
- make the papers
- hit the headlines
more dramatic and informal
- be covered by
neutral and more formal
- feature in
implies prominent placement or attention
Usage Note
Object is a publication or broadcast medium — the front page, the evening news, headlines. Typically implies significant coverage by major media outlets.
Common Mistakes
17. to cause a situation, event, or personal experience to turn out completely enjoy
to cause a situation, event, or personal experience to turn out completely enjoyable, satisfying, or successful
The sunny weather and calm sea really made our beach holiday.
collocation: make the holiday / make the evening
A good sauce can make an ordinary dish into something truly memorable.
Élise practised the piano piece daily, and her hard work made the concert.
The warm lighting and soft background music made the evening wonderfully romantic.
collocation: make the evening / make the occasion
- make the evening
- make the party
- make the holiday
- make the meal
- complete
to add the final pleasing element to something
- ensure the success of
more formal and deliberate
- be the making of
idiomatic, informal — used for a person or element that transforms something
- ruin
to cause an event or experience to be unsuccessful or unenjoyable
Usage Note
Object is an event, occasion, or experience — a holiday, party, meal, performance, or evening. Common in informal, positive descriptions. Not used for making objects technically perfect.
Common Mistakes
make for
phrasal verbTo move in the direction of a place.
When the rain started, we made for the shelter.
The ship made for the nearest port.
make into
phrasal verbTo change or transform something into something else.
They made the old factory into a museum.
Can you make this story into a movie?
make of
phrasal verbTo have an opinion or understanding about something or someone.
What do you make of his strange behavior?
I don't know what to make of her comments.
make off
phrasal verbTo leave quickly, especially to escape.
The thief made off before anyone could stop him.
They made off when they heard the police siren.
make off with
phrasal verbTo steal something and take it away.
Someone made off with my bicycle last night.
The burglars made off with valuable jewelry.
make out
phrasal verbTo see, hear, or understand something with difficulty.
I could barely make out the sign in the fog.
Can you make out what she is saying?
make over
phrasal verbTo legally transfer ownership of something to someone else.
She made over the house to her son.
He made over his entire fortune to charity.
make towards
phrasal verbTo move in the direction of something.
The dog made towards the open gate.
She made towards the exit when the meeting ended.
make up
phrasal verbTo invent a story, excuse, or lie.
He made up an excuse for being late.
Did she make up that whole story about the accident?
make up for
phrasal verbTo compensate for something bad or missing.
She worked extra hours to make up for lost time.
A good dessert can make up for a poor meal.
make up to
phrasal verbTo try to please someone in order to gain their favor.
He is always making up to the boss.
She made up to her teacher to get a better grade.
To start a movement that suggests you are about to do something.
Sara made as if to leave, then stopped.
Did you see him make as if to hit the table?
To manage with something that is not ideal or sufficient.
We had no milk, so we made do with water.
Can you make do with this old chair for now?
make good
idiomTo become wealthy and successful.
Maya left her small town to make good in the city.
He made good through hard work and smart investments.
make something good
idiomTo pay for, replace, or repair something that was lost or damaged.
The company promised to make good the loss.
She made good the broken window herself.
make it
idiomTo achieve success in one's career or life.
After years of struggle, she finally made it as a singer.
He never made it in the film industry.
To have sex with someone.
He boasted that he made it with her.
Did they make it with each other last night?
make like…
idiomTo pretend to be, know, or have something in order to impress others.
He makes like he knows everything about cars.
Don't make like you're rich when you're not.
To use something or someone as well as possible to gain maximum benefit.
We only have one day, so let's make the most of it.
She made the most of her talents and became a star.
To treat something or someone as very important or significant.
The media made much of his small mistake.
She made much of her guest, offering him the best seat.
To be the deciding factor that causes either success or failure.
This exam will make or break his academic career.
The new product launch is make or break for the company.
To become successful in life through one's own efforts.
He studied hard to make something of himself.
She wanted to make something of herself despite the odds.
make — noun
1. the name of a company that produces a product, or the product itself when identi
the name of a company that produces a product, or the product itself when identified by its manufacturer, model, or type
Ziad asked what make of car Élise drove before buying his own.
collocation: make of [product]
The mechanic said this make of washing machine often needs repairs after five years.
determiner + make + of + product noun
Naoko only buys one make of running shoes because they fit her feet well.
Our kitchen has appliances of the same make, so the colours all match.
of the same make (same brand)
That store sells several makes of laptop, from budget to high-end models.
- make of car
- make of phone
- same make
- various makes
- different make
- foreign make
- German make
- what make
Grammar Patterns
make + of + noun
what + make
of the same make
Usage Note
Often used in questions with 'what' ('What make is your car?') or with an adjective describing origin ('a Japanese make', 'a foreign make'). In everyday conversation 'brand' is more common for everyday items, while 'make' is especially frequent for cars, machines, and appliances.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
make 和 do 是學習者最常混淆的兩個動詞。make 的核心義是「創造、產出某個新東西」——你 make a cake（做蛋糕）、make a table（做桌子）、make a decision（做決定），重點在於有一個具體或抽象的成果產出。而 do 的核心義是「執行某項活動或任務」——你 do your homework（做功課）、do the dishes（洗碗）、do business（做生意），強調的是動作過程而非產出成果。簡單記法：有名詞成果用 make，無特定產出用 do。例如：make a mistake（犯錯——有錯誤這個成果）vs. do a test（考試——強調執行測驗這個動作）。
Common collocations
Verbs
- make a decision
- make a difference
- make a profit / loss
- make an effort
- make up your mind
- make sense
- make sure
- make do
- make it
- make time
- make room
- make friends
- make a fortune
Adverbs
- make something clear / plain
- make something official
- make something public
Etymology
make 源自中世紀初期，從古英語的 macian（意思為「製造、建造、形成」）演變而來，其源頭可追溯至西日耳曼語的 *makōn 以及原始印歐語的 *mag-（意為「揉捏、加工」）。到了中古英語時期，maker 的語義逐漸擴展，涵蓋了「致使、強迫、成為、抵達」等多種抽象用法，與 do（做）形成功能分工，成為現代英語中最核心的動詞之一。