13 English Phrasal Verbs With ‘Make’

13 phrasal verbs with ‘make’ (with example sentences)

MAKE AFTER

1. To run after someone or chase them.
   The shopkeeper made after the thief, but he couldn’t catch him. 

MAKE AWAY WITH

1. To steal something and run away with it.
   The man made away with a necklace from the jewellery shop.

MAKE FOR

1. To deliberately move towards something.
   He made for the big house at the end of the street. 
2. To help to make something possible.
   A holiday at the beach makes for a relaxing break.

MAKE INTO

1. To change one thing into another.
   That old bowl can easily be made into a plant pot.
   I can make this piece of paper into a plane!

MAKE IT UP TO

1. To do something good for someone you have done something bad to in the past.
   Oh no! I forgot Jane’s birthday. I’ll make it up to her by buying her some flowers!

English has lots of interesting idioms and collocations with the verb ‘make’. However, these are not technically phrasal verbs so are not included on this list. For example, make it (arrive, become successful) and make do (cope or manage with what you already have). For more on this topic, check out our post on the differences between make and do.

MAKE OF

1. To give an opinion about something or someone.
   What do you make of Sarah’s new boyfriend?
   Yeah, he’s ok. What do you think of him?
2. To use opportunities to be successful.
   Your new job can be whatever you make of it.

MAKE OFF

1. To run away.
   The robbers made off before the police arrived.

MAKE OFF WITH

1. To steal something and run away with it.
   The man made off with the money before the security guard could stop him.

Watch this useful video and try to notice a couple of American meanings of make out that we have not included on our list:

MAKE OUT

1. To see something clearly (often used when something is difficult to see).
   I can’t make out how many people are standing on that hill.
2. To find it difficult to read something.
   Can you make out the date on that document?
   No, I can’t make it out.
3. To write all the necessary information on a document.
   Can you make out the cheque to John Smith please?
   Oh! I made the cheque out to Helen, I hope that’s OK?
4. To understand what someone is saying.
   I couldn’t make out what he said – it was a bad phone line.
   With all the noise, I couldn’t make him out.
5. To find it difficult to understand someone’s behaviour.
   Tom has been behaving strangely lately. I just can’t make him out.
6. To apply for a job.
   He made out the application.
7. To doubt something which is generally considered true.
   He’s made out to be a really great teacher, but I’m not so sure.
8. To pretend something is true.
   She made out that she didn’t have any money, but then I heard she had won the lottery!

1. To cause people to have a false opinion about another person.
   She made me out to be a liar. Now no one is speaking to me.

MAKE OVER

1. To change your appearance in a positive way.
   She was made over by the stylist before her wedding day.
2. To give something to another person, usually money or property.
   The house was made over to his son. 

MAKE TOWARDS

1. To move towards something.
   She made towards the checkout after she had picked up all her shopping.

MAKE UP

1. To invent something or create a story about something.
   The boy made up an amazing story about aliens living in London.
   That’s incredible! You couldn’t make it up!
2. To put on lipstick, eye shadow etc.
   The actress was made up before the performance.

‘Make-up’ and ‘makeover’ are also used as nouns in English. If you are going to a party, you might put on your make-up or even have a full makeover for a special occasion! For example, She had a beautiful makeover before her wedding. 

1. To become friends again after an argument
   I’m really glad I finally made up with Sue. She is one of my best friends.
2. To constitute or form a part of something.
   The exam is made up of four different papers.
   Men make up 48% of the population. 
3. To be extremely happy.
   I got the job! I’m made up! 
4. To prepare something.
   If you’d like to stay at my place, I’ll make up a bed for you.
   I can make the bed up myself, if you like?
5. To invent an excuse.
   He made up some excuse about losing his wallet.
6. To put in an additional amount of money.
   If you give David £100, I’ll make up the difference.
   I was going to give her £95, but I made it up to £100.

MAKE UP FOR

To compensate for something.
The beautiful weather made up for the terrible bus ride to the beach.
 

Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘make’

Judith P.
— ESL Tutor

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