30 Phrasal Verbs using “MAKE” with Meanings and Sentences:

Make up (invent)

Meaning: To create or invent a story or excuse

Sentence: She made up an excuse for being late to work.

Make out (perceive)

Meaning: To see, hear, or understand with difficulty

Sentence: I can barely make out what’s written on that sign.

Make for (head toward)

Meaning: To move in the direction of

Sentence: We should make for the nearest shelter before it starts raining.

Make over (transform)

Meaning: To change or renovate something completely

Sentence: They made over their entire house last summer.

Make do (manage with)

Meaning: To manage with the limited resources available

Sentence: We’ll have to make do with what we have in the pantry for dinner.

Make off (leave quickly)

Meaning: To leave or depart hastily

Sentence: The thieves made off with the jewels before the police arrived.

Make up for (compensate)

Meaning: To compensate for a loss or deficiency

Sentence: He tried to make up for his mistake by working overtime.

Make of (understand or interpret)

Meaning: To understand or form an opinion about something

Sentence: I don’t know what to make of his strange behavior.

Make out (write)

Meaning: To write out or complete a document

Sentence: Can you make out a check for the electrician?

Make away with (steal)

Meaning: To steal or carry off

Sentence: The embezzler made away with millions of dollars.

Make into (transform)

Meaning: To transform something into something else

Sentence: We can make this old shirt into a cleaning rag.

Make for (contribute to)

Meaning: To result in or contribute to a situation

Sentence: All these factors make for a challenging work environment.

Make up to (try to please)

Meaning: To try to gain favor with someone

Sentence: He’s always making up to the boss for a promotion.

More phrasal verbs:

Make out (succeed)

Meaning: To manage or succeed

Sentence: How did you make out on your exam?

Make light of (treat as unimportant)

Meaning: To treat something as unimportant or trivial

Sentence: Don’t make light of her achievements; she worked hard for them.

Make up one’s mind (decide)

Meaning: To reach a decision

Sentence: I need to make up my mind about which college to attend.

Make off with (steal and escape)

Meaning: To steal something and escape with it

Sentence: The burglar made off with several valuable paintings.

Make out (kiss passionately)

Meaning: To kiss and caress amorously

Sentence: The teenagers were making out in the back of the movie theater.

Make up (reconcile)

Meaning: To reconcile after a disagreement

Sentence: The couple had a fight but made up the next day.

Make for (be suitable for)

Meaning: To be suitable or appropriate for something

Sentence: This cool weather makes for perfect hiking conditions.

Make after (chase)

Meaning: To pursue or chase someone

Sentence: The police officer made after the fleeing suspect.

Make over (transfer ownership)

Meaning: To transfer the ownership of something to someone else

Sentence: He made over his estate to his children before he died.

Make up to (flatter or try to gain favor)

Meaning: To flatter someone or try to gain their favor

Sentence: The student was always making up to the teacher for better grades.

Make out like (pretend)

Meaning: To pretend to be something

Sentence: He’s making out like he’s the victim in this situation.

Make with (produce or provide quickly)

Meaning: To produce or provide something quickly

Sentence: Come on, make with the cash. We need to pay the bill.

Make believe (pretend)

Meaning: To pretend or imagine

Sentence: The children were making believe they were pirates on a ship.

Make of oneself (become through effort)

Meaning: To become something through one’s own efforts

Sentence: He made a success of himself despite his humble beginnings.

Make much of (treat as important)

Meaning: To treat something as very important

Sentence: The media made much of the politician’s minor gaffe.

Make good (succeed)

Meaning: To be successful or prosper

Sentence: Despite early setbacks, the company eventually made good.

Make away (escape)

Meaning: To escape or get away

Sentence: The suspect made away before the police could arrest him.