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Definition make in British English

make verb

verb
/meɪk/

When make means ‘to cause or force someone to do something’ and is followed by another verb, use the infinitive without to:

✗ What makes them to commit crime?

✓ What makes them commit crime?

✗ Advertising makes us to buy a lot of unnecessary things.

✓ Advertising makes us buy a lot of unnecessary things.

But when make is in the passive, use the infinitive with to:

I feel the American people have been unfairly made to pay for the government’s mistakes.

1

to create or produce something by working

Example

Jane made coffee while the guests were finishing their dessert.

Example

She makes all her own clothes.

Example

This furniture is made in South America.

Example

They make paper from old rags.

Example

We made curtains out of some old material we found.

Example

a bowl made of metal/plastic/wood

Example

Joan made me a beautiful dress for my wedding.

Example

They're making a TV programme about the case.

Synonyms and related words
catalyze bring about trigger
2

to cause something to be formed by breaking, cutting, or tearing an object or by pushing one object into or through another

Example

Something's made a scratch in the counter.

Synonyms and related words
catalyze bring about trigger
3

used with some nouns for showing that someone performs the action referred to by the noun

Example

Over 340 arrests were made.

Example

Helen made no attempt to stop him.

Example

No one wanted to make a clear decision on the project.

Example

Nobody's perfect - we all make mistakes.

Example

We've made some progress, but there's still a long way to go.

Example

People can eat more healthily without making major changes to their diet.

Example

This study makes an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the disease.

Example

Stop making so much noise!

Example

Matthew made a note of the car's number and informed the police.

Synonyms and related words
do perform conduct
3.1

used with some nouns for showing that someone says something

Example

The minister will make a statement on that issue later today.

Synonyms and related words
say talk speak
4

to cause someone or something to be in a particular state or to change to another state

Example

This film always makes me cry.

Example

I know enough Japanese to make myself understood.

Example

The noise in the school makes learning difficult.

Example

The smell of fish makes me feel ill.

Example

That haircut makes you look ten years younger.

Example

Listening to the news just makes me angry these days.

Example

I want to make the place nice for when they arrive.

Example

It was television that made her so popular.

Example

I'd like to make it clear that I had nothing to do with this.

Example

She made it known that she was the mayor's wife.

Example

They made him head teacher after Joanne left.

Synonyms and related words
shape impact affect
5

to force someone to do something

Example

I'm not going to apologize and you can't make me!

Example

They made us work for 12 hours a day.

Example

They made him tell the truth by depriving him of food.

Example

We were made to learn fifty new words every week.

Synonyms and related words
shanghai nag force
6

to arrange or organize something

Example

I've made an appointment for you with the doctor for tomorrow morning.

Synonyms and related words
structure reorganize prioritize
7

to earn or get money

Example

She makes about £2,000 a month.

Example

You can make a lot of money playing the stock market.

Example

Can you make a living from painting?

Example

The company made a small profit in its first year.

Synonyms and related words
generate get get back
8

to give a particular total when added together

Example

Four and two make six.

Synonyms and related words
add up come to amount to
8.1

to decide that something gives a particular total when calculating an amount

Example

I make that £750 after tax.

Synonyms and related words
calculate count estimate
9

to cause something to be successful

Example

It was the children's choir that really made the performance.

Synonyms and related words
succeed manage pull off
10

to have the right qualities for a particular job, purpose etc

Example

Diane would make a good teacher - she's so patient.

Example

Don't you think the novel would make a great film?

Synonyms and related words
appear be become
11

to reach a particular place, especially so that there is time to do something

Example

At this rate we won't make Jedda before midnight.

Example

Dan just managed to make his 7 o'clock flight to Toronto.

Synonyms and related words
arrive enter reach
11.1

to be able to be present at a particular event

Example

We can't make the conference after all.

Synonyms and related words
join in participate involve
12

to succeed in achieving something by reaching the necessary level or standard

Example

We've made our target of 10,000 sales this month.

Example

They'll never make the deadline now that the computers have crashed.

Example

Their search for a heart donor made the headlines in April.

Example

Dawson has failed to make the team for Saturday's big match.

Synonyms and related words
succeed manage pull off
Definition make in British English

Related Words

Words related to make:

the rounds (phrase) don’t make me laugh (phrase) make (verb) make (noun) make (both) ends meet (phrase) make (the) time (phrase) make a (phone) call (phrase) make a bed (phrase) make a buck (phrase) make a day of it (phrase) make a difference (phrase) make a fast buck (phrase) make a fast/quick buck (phrase) make a fuss of (phrase) make a getaway (phrase) make a go of something (phrase) make a killing (phrase) make a mental note (phrase) make a mockery of (phrase) make a move (phrase) make a quick buck (phrase) make a run for it (phrase) make a splash (phrase) make a start (phrase) make a statement (phrase) make after (phrasal verb) make an entrance (phrase) make an exception (phrase) make an impression (phrase) make away with (phrasal verb) make believe (phrase) make certain (phrase) make conversation (phrase) make demands on (phrase) make for (phrasal verb) make free with something (phrase) make friends (phrase) make fun of (phrase) make good (phrase) make good something (phrase) make haste (phrase) make history (phrase) make into (phrasal verb) make it (phrase) make it big (phrase) make it snappy (phrase) make it with someone (phrase) make light of something (phrase) make like (phrase) make love (phrase) make my day (phrase) make no move (phrase) make of (phrasal verb) make off (phrasal verb) make off with (phrasal verb) make or break (phrase) make out (phrasal verb) make over (phrasal verb) make sense (phrase) make someone sick (phrase) make someone’s acquaintance (phrase) make someone’s day (phrase) make someone’s hair curl (phrase) make something count (phrase) make something fast (phrase) make something stick (phrase) make strides (phrase) make sure (phrase) make the best of it (phrase) make the first move (phrase) make the grade (phrase) make time (for) (phrase) make towards (phrasal verb) make tracks (phrase) make up (phrasal verb) make up for (phrasal verb) make up for lost time (phrase) make up the leeway (phrase) make up to (phrasal verb) make up your mind (phrase) make use of (phrase) make waves (phrase) make way (for) (phrase) make your blood boil (phrase) make your blood curdle (phrase) make your excuses (phrase) make your way (phrase) make yourself at home (phrase) make yourself heard (phrase) make yourself scarce (phrase) make yourself useful (phrase) make-believe (noun) make-or-break (adjective) make-up (noun) make-up malfunction (noun) make-work (noun) no apologies (phrase) a face (phrase) on the make (phrase) we all make mistakes (phrase)