Make

/meɪk/

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

4 meanings
1

To bring something into existence; to form or construct.

/meɪk/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To create or produce something

He makes a living as a carpenter.

💡 Simply: Making means to *create* something! Like when you make a sandwich or make a drawing. Think of building something, it is making.

👶 For kids: To bring something to life! Like making a picture or making a yummy snack!

More Examples

2

Can you make a cup of coffee for me?

3

The artist makes beautiful sculptures.

4

They make a lot of money from their business.

How It's Used

General

"She makes delicious cakes."

Manufacturing

"The factory makes cars."

2

To cause something to happen; to compel or influence someone.

/meɪk/

verbneutralmedium
General

To cause or bring about

The rain made the roads slippery.

💡 Simply: To cause something to happen. If you tell a funny joke, it might make someone laugh.

👶 For kids: To cause something to happen! If you tickle someone, you make them laugh.

More Examples

2

His harsh words made her cry.

3

The teacher made the students study.

4

The success of the project made everyone happy.

How It's Used

General

"The news made her sad."

Social

"He made a promise to his friend."

Tip:Think of the consequences: The news *made* her sad.
3

To transform or convert into something else

/meɪk/

verbneutralmedium
General

To become or turn into

He made a doctor after years of studying.

💡 Simply: To turn into something else. When you make a doctor or make a cake. This is a transformation.

👶 For kids: To transform something into something else! If you're baking a cake, you make the ingredients into the cake.

More Examples

2

The ingredients will make a delicious meal.

3

The exercise made him stronger.

4

He made an excellent presentation.

How It's Used

Social

"He wants to make a doctor"

General

"The ingredients make a cake"

Tip:Think of the change: Making a person a doctor is a transformation
4

The brand or manufacturer of a product.

/meɪk/

nounneutralmedium
General

The brand or manufacturer of a product

What make is your laptop?

💡 Simply: The *brand* that makes a product. Like, is your car a Honda make? This is what make refers to.

👶 For kids: The company that made it! Like if you have a toy car and want to know who made it.

More Examples

2

I prefer this make of coffee.

3

This make is known for its durability.

How It's Used

Business

"What make is your car?"

Retail

"Is this a good make?"

Tip:Think about the brand that *makes* a product

Idioms & expressions

make a difference

To have a positive or significant effect on something or someone.

"The charity work really made a difference in the lives of the homeless."

make up your mind

To decide or choose something.

"I wish he'd make up his mind about what he wants to do!"

make sense

To be logical and understandable.

"His explanation didn't make sense."

make ends meet

To have enough money to live on; to balance income and expenses.

"It's hard to make ends meet with these rising prices."

make the best of

To accept a difficult situation and try to remain positive.

"We had to make the best of a bad situation."

From Old English macian, from Proto-Germanic *makōną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mag- ('to knead, fashion, fit').

The word 'make' has been used since Old English times, with roots in Proto-Germanic languages.

Memory tip

Imagine you're kneading dough and creating a bread. You MAKE the bread.

mackmaik

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written