make out
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle out
Meanings
Manage to see, hear or understand something with difficulty
Why “out”? Something comes into the open. People can see it, know it, or understand it.
“I can just make out his signature.”
“I could make out a light in the fog.”
Don't confuse with
Make out means manage to see, hear or understand something with difficulty. Make up means invent or fabricate.
Test yourself
“I can just make out his signature.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
make up
A contrast learners often mix up
Invent or fabricate
bear out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Provide evidence that confirms what someone has said
break out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
(of war, fire or disease) Start suddenly; Escape from a locked or guarded place
bring out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Make a quality or feature more obvious; Publish or launch a new product; Cause a particular response or behaviour in someone; Take something out of a container or place to show it; Encourage a shy person to be more confident
call out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Shout something loudly or summon services
check out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Leave a hotel after paying; Look at or examine
come out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Be revealed publicly
dig out
Same out pattern: becoming clear
Find something by searching through other things
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “make out” in Sink In
Drill “make out” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
