WordVale

make out

say it: MAYK OWT

to manage to see or hear; to fare

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to kiss and embrace someone romantically

2. (verb) to manage or succeed, especially with difficulty

3. (verb) to see, hear, or understand something, especially when it is unclear

4. (verb) to write out or complete a document such as a check or form

Examples

• 1. The couple was making out in the back seat of the car.
• 2. How are you making out with your new job?
• 3. I could barely make out what he was saying in the noisy restaurant.

How to use make out

Make out is a versatile phrasal verb with distinct meanings depending on context. Sense 1 (romantic kissing) is informal and common in everyday speech. Sense 2 (to manage/succeed) is informal and often appears in questions like 'How are you making out?' Sense 3 (to perceive/understand) is neutral and used when something is difficult to see or comprehend. Sense 4 (to write/complete documents) is neutral and formal in administrative contexts. The romantic sense carries a youthful or casual tone, while the document-writing sense is more straightforward.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• make out with someone
• make out a check
• hard to make out
• make out okay
• make out an invoice

Synonyms

kiss · embrace · discern · decipher · manage

Word family

makeout (noun) · making out (gerund)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse 'make out' (to see/understand something unclear) with 'figure out' and may use it when the object is already clear; also, non-native speakers sometimes use sense 1 in formal contexts where it would be inappropriate.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

look forward to, look into, look up to, make up, narrow down, opt for

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained