10 Common Phrasal Verbs with “Make” – Meanings and Example Sentences (Audio)

Make for

to move toward a place; to help make something happen

  He finished his last words and made for the door.

Playing games doesn’t make for a good job.

My careful consideration made for great decisions.

Make up

to invent a story or excuse; to put on make-up; to become friends again

  Sorry, that was the story that I made up.

  She usually spends an hour making herself up before parties.

That’s my fault. I’ll make it up to her.

Make up for

to do something to correct your faults

Her diligence makes up for her inexperience.

Nothing can make up for what he has done to my family.

I bought a present to make up for being late.

Make over

to legally make someone the owner of something; to change the appearance of someone or something

This house was made over to his son.

My grandparents made their properties over to my dad.

Can you make over these old jeans?

Make out

to successfully deal with something; to touch someone in a sexual way or to have sex with someone; to understand someone’s characters

He can never make me out.

He struggled to make out with his new business.

He made out with his best friend last night.

Make of

to understand someone or the meaning of something

I’m confused about what to make of her statement.

He’s so cold. I don’t know what to make of him.

What do you make of her speech?

Make off

to escape

The murderers made off before the police arrived.

He’s so cold. I don’t know what to make of him.

The kids broke my window and made off afterward.

Make out of

to create something from another thing; to interpret someone or something

They made this dog out of cartons.

They made this dog out of cartons.

What do you make out of this message?

This robot is made out of plastic and wood.

Make way

to move aside so that someone or something can pass; to make room for something

Trees were cut down to make way for tall buildings.

They all stepped back to make way for the celebrities.

Make way, please. The ambulance is coming through.

Make toward

to move toward someone or something

He hasn’t fully recovered from the operation. He couldn’t even make toward the bathroom.

She quickly made toward the gate and disappeared in the dark.

We’d better make toward the shore.