make up
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle up
Meanings
Invent or fabricate
Why “up”? A new thing appears or is made.
“She made up a story on the spot.”
“The child made up a funny excuse.”
Don't confuse with
Make up means invent or fabricate. Make out means manage to see, hear or understand something with difficulty.
Test yourself
“She made up a story on the spot.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
make out
A contrast learners often mix up
Manage to see, hear or understand something with difficulty
build up
Same up pattern: making
Gradually increase in amount, strength or intensity; Develop or strengthen something over time; Make someone or something seem more important or impressive than they are; Encourage or strengthen someone emotionally; Create momentum towards a moment or event
conjure up
Same up pattern: making
Invent as if by magic
cook up
Same up pattern: making
Devise (often something dubious)
draw up
Same up pattern: making
Compose or formulate
dream up
Same up pattern: making
Invent imaginatively
mix up
Same up pattern: making
Combine ingredients into something new
note up
Same up pattern: making
Write detailed notes on a text, often in the margins
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