Phrasal verbs with MAKE are extremely common in everyday English, but they often confuse learners because one verb can create many different meanings depending on the particle used. Understanding these expressions is essential if you want to sound more natural and confident in both speaking and writing.
In this lesson, you’ll find a carefully revised and well-structured guide to phrasal verbs with MAKE. Each phrasal verb is explained with clear meanings, natural examples, and grammar notes to help you use them accurately.
List of Common Phrasal Verbs with MAKE
Here are the 15 most essential phrasal verbs with make that you’ll encounter in daily conversation:
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Make after
Make away with
Make for
Make into
Make it up to
Make of
Make off with
Make out
Make out of
Make over
Make up
Make up for
Make up to
Make towards
Make way
Phrasal Verbs with MAKE: Meaning and Examples
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of each phrasal verb with make, organized with clear meanings, real-world examples, and essential grammar rules.
Make after
/meɪk ˈɑːftər/transitiveinseparable
📖 To chase or pursue someone in order to catch them.
The police made after the suspect on foot.
🔄 Synonyms:ChasePursue
Make away with
/meɪk əˈweɪ wɪð/transitiveinseparable
📖 To steal something and leave with it.
The thief made away with the jewelry.
🔄 Synonyms:StealTake
Make for
/meɪk fɔːr/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To move or travel toward a place.
When it started raining, we made for the nearest café.
📖 2To contribute to a particular result.
Regular exercise makes for better health.
🔄 Synonyms:Head toContribute to
Make into
/meɪk ˈɪntuː/transitiveseparable
📖 To change something into something else.
She made the old dress into a bag.
🔄 Synonyms:TransformTurn into
Make it up to
/meɪk ɪt ʌp tuː/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To do something nice to compensate someone.
I’ll make it up to you by cooking dinner.
📖 2To repay someone for inconvenience or hurt.
He tried to make it up to her after the argument.
🔄 Synonyms:CompensateMake amends
The first five phrasal verbs with make show how this verb expresses motion, transformation, and compensation. “Make after” and “make away with” describe pursuit and theft, while “make for” shows direction and contribution. “Make into” and “make it up to” focus on changing and reconciling. These foundational verbs establish core meanings of motion and remaking.
Make of
/meɪk əv/transitiveinseparable
📖 To form an opinion or judgment.
What do you make of his decision?
🔄 Synonyms:Think ofInterpret
Make off with
/meɪk ɒf wɪð/transitiveinseparable
📖 To steal something and escape with it.
Someone made off with my laptop.
🔄 Synonyms:StealRun off with
Make out
/meɪk aʊt/transitive-intransitiveseparable
📖 1To understand or see/hear something with difficulty.
I can’t make out what he’s saying over the loud music.
📖 2To write or prepare a document.
The lawyer made out the contract and sent it to the client.
📖 3To claim or pretend something is true.
He makes himself out to be a millionaire, but he’s actually broke.
📖 4To manage or succeed in a situation.
Despite the challenges, she’s making out well at her new job.
📖 5To kiss passionately (informal).
They started making out in the back row of the cinema.
🔄 Synonyms:Figure outDecipherDraftAssertKiss
Make out of
/meɪk aʊt əv/transitiveinseparable
📖 To create something using a material.
This table is made out of wood.
🔄 Synonyms:Create fromForm from
Make over
/meɪk ˈoʊvər/transitiveseparable
📖 1To renovate, redesign, or change something completely.
They made over the old house into a modern home.
📖 2To give someone a new appearance (hair, clothes, makeup).
The stylist made her over for the event.
🔄 Synonyms:RemodelTransform
The second group of phrasal verbs with make reveals the breadth of this verb’s meanings. “Make of” and “make off with” focus on interpretation and theft, while “make out” is remarkably versatile, covering perception, document creation, claiming, managing, and intimate actions. “Make out of” and “make over” emphasize material transformation and renovation, showing how make expresses comprehensive change and creation.
Make up
/meɪk ʌp/transitive-intransitiveseparable
📖 1To invent a story, excuse, or information.
She made up an excuse for being late.
📖 2To become friends again after an argument.
They argued yesterday, but they made up this morning.
📖 3To form or constitute a whole.
Women make up a large part of the workforce.
📖 4To apply cosmetics.
She made up her face before the interview.
🔄 Synonyms:InventReconcileConsist of
Make up for
/meɪk ʌp fɔːr/transitiveinseparable
📖 To compensate for something missing or lost.
He worked late to make up for lost time.
🔄 Synonyms:Compensate forMake good
Make up to
/meɪk ʌp tuː/intransitiveinseparable
📖 To do something to gain someone’s approval or favor (often in an obvious way).
He keeps offering help because he’s trying to make up to the manager.
🔄 Synonyms:FlatterSuck up to
Make towards
/meɪk təˈwɔːrdz/intransitiveinseparable
📖 To move or head in a particular direction.
We made towards the exit before the concert ended.
🔄 Synonyms:Head towardMove toward
Make way
/meɪk weɪ/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To move aside and allow someone or something to pass.
Please make way for the ambulance.
📖 2To create space for something new to happen or appear.
New technologies are making way for innovation.
🔄 Synonyms:Step asideClear the way
Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs with MAKE
Learners often confuse similar phrasal verbs with make. Here are three common mistakes and how to correct them:
❌ Wrong“I made away my wallet.” (Incorrect—uses wrong particle)
✅ Correct“Someone made away with my wallet.” (Correct—means they stole it)
❌ Wrong“She made out the problem by studying.” (Incorrect—wrong meaning)
✅ Correct“She figured out the problem by studying.” OR “She made out the check.” (Correct—either understand or write a document)
❌ Wrong“They made up for the mistake yesterday.” (Incorrect—wrong phrasal verb)
✅ Correct“They made up after their argument.” (Correct—means they reconciled)
Key Grammar Notes
Dialogue Examples with Phrasal Verbs with MAKE
💬 At the Office: Dealing with Complications
Anna
It’s too dark in here. Can you read the sign?
Mark
Not really. I can’t make out the last word.
Anna
Someone stole my phone yesterday.
Mark
That’s terrible. They must have made off with it when you weren’t looking.
Anna
I’m sorry I missed your birthday dinner.
Mark
No worries—just make it up to me next weekend!
In this dialogue, the phrasal verbs “make out,” “make off with,” and “make it up to” are used naturally in everyday workplace and personal interactions.
Keep your progress on track!
Every phrasal verb you learn adds another layer to your English fluency. Keep growing your linguistic toolkit with these highly useful topics:
