make out

What does "make out" mean?

1. To see, hear, or understand something with difficulty
2. To claim or suggest that something is true
3. To write out a document (cheque, receipt)
4. To kiss and touch romantically (informal)
5. To manage or progress in a situation

Examples

• I couldn't make out what she was saying over the noise.
• He makes out that he's very experienced, but he isn't.
• Please make out the cheque to 'ABC Company'.
• We saw them making out in the car.
• How did you make out in your job interview?

How to use it

'Make out' for kissing is informal North American English. 'How did you make out?' means 'How did things go?' - common in Canadian English. Very versatile phrasal verb.

Word order

For perceiving: not separable. For claiming: not separable. For writing documents: separable ('make the cheque out'). For kissing: not separable.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• make up

  To invent a story, excuse, or lie

• make up for

  To compensate for something bad or lost

• make off

  To leave quickly, especially to escape

• make over

  To change someone's appearance, especially with new clothes and hair

• make for

  To move towards a place or thing

• get out

  To leave a place, room, or vehicle