make out
verbUS, UK /meɪk aʊt/ · AU /meɪk æɔt/
9 senses
- 1To draw up (a document etc.), to designate (a cheque).
- 2To send out.
- 3To discern; to manage to see, hear etc.
- 4To manage, get along; to do (well, badly etc.).
- 5To represent; to make (something) appear to be true.
- 6To get along with (someone).
- 7To make an (often temporary) home.
- 8To embrace and kiss passionately.
- 9To engage in heavy petting or sexual intercourse.
1
To draw up (a document etc.), to designate (a cheque).
- Cheques may be made out to the Foo Bar Company.
2
Obsolete To send out.
- The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job I:17:
3
To discern; to manage to see, hear etc.
- In the distance, I could just make out a shadowy figure.
- There was a startling lack of creativity and if Van Gaal had listened closely he would have made out the mocking chants from the away end, as the visiting fans embarked on the repertoire of songs that formed the soundtrack to David Moyes’s time in the job.2014 August 16, Daniel Taylor, “Swansea upstage Manchester United in Louis van Gaal’s Premier League bow”, in The Guardian:
1 more example
- Though nothing of the vault except the roof was visible from where I lay, and so I could not see these visitors, yet I heard every word spoken, and soon made out one voice as being Master Ratsey's.[1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
- Oh, you were on a TV game show? How did you make out?
- Regarding money—I shall economize and make out probably very well from now on—without any outside help.1931 June 5, Hart Crane, Letters of Hart Crane and his family, New York: Columbia University Press, published 1974, →OCLC, To Clarence Arthur Crane, page 645, paragraph 2:
1 more example
- 'Will this little shack serve – or do we go further?' I asked. 'Oh, I guess we'll make out,' she said. And together we waded through the delicate cream carpet to explore.1951, John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids:
5
Ambitransitive To represent; to make (something) appear to be true.
- His version of the story makes me out (to be) the bad guy.
- She hadn't invited me to a party at her house since the third grade, and here she was, making out like we'd never stopped being friends.2002, Meg Cabot, All-American Girl, 2003 paperback edition, New York: Harper Trophy, →ISBN, page 134:
- We found a secluded spot where we could make out in private.
9
US, Nonstandard, Rare, Slang To engage in heavy petting or sexual intercourse.
- Synonyms
- descry, detect, spot, make do, hug, squeeze, smooch, neck, cop a feel, grope, touch up, make it, make whoopee
- Derived terms
- make out like a bandit, makeout, maker-outer