make out

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	make out
he/she/it	makes out
present participle	making out
past tense	made out
past participle	made out

1
transitive to see, hear, or understand someone or something with difficulty
I can just make a few words out on this page.
I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Can you make out a face here on the photograph?
Synonyms and related words
To hear something
hear
make out
receive
Synonyms and related words
To see or not see someone or something
see
make out
spot
Synonyms and related words
To understand something or someone in a particular way
make out
interpret
perceive
1. 1a
  informalto understand someone’s character
  I can’t make her out.
  Synonyms and related words
  To understand someone’s character or thinking
  identify with
  make out
  figure out
2
transitive to write all the necessary information on a document such as a check
She made out a check and handed it to me.
Synonyms and related words
To write information on a document
address
annotate
backdate
Synonyms and related words
Checks and using checks
blank check
bounce
cancel a check
3
transitive to cause people to have a particular false opinion about someone or something
make someone out to be something:
He made me out to be a liar.
Synonyms and related words
To cheat or trick someone
shanghai
cheat
rip off
4
transitive informalto pretend that something is true
make out (that):
He made out that he’d won the lottery.
Synonyms and related words
To pretend to do or feel something
play along
keep up
pretend
5
intransitive informalto succeed, or to continue in a particular way
How is Frank making out in his new job?
Synonyms and related words
To be, or to become successful
punch above your weight
thrive
prosper
6
intransitive Americaninformalto have sex, or to kiss and touch in a sexual way
They were making out in the back of his car.
Synonyms and related words
To have sex
sleep with
consummate
copulate