From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmake out phrasal verb1 see/hear make something ↔ outSEEUNDERSTAND to be just able to see or hear something He could just make out a dark shape moving towards him.make out who/what etc I couldn’t make out what he was saying.2 understand something make something ↔ out to understand something, especially the reason why something has happenedmake out what/how/why etc I couldn’t make out what I had done to annoy her. As far as I can make out, he has never been married.3 understand somebody make somebody ↔ out [usually in questions and negatives]UNDERSTAND to understand someone’s character and the way they behave Stuart’s a strange guy – I can’t make him out at all.4 write cheque etc make something ↔ outWRITE to write something such as a bill or cheque She was making out a list of people to invite. The book gives advice on making out a will.make something ↔ out to Make the cheque out to ‘Grays Ltd’.5 say/pretend make somebody/something ↔ outPRETEND to say that something is true when it is not The situation was never as bad as the media made out.make out (that) She always tried to make out that I was wrong and she was right.make somebody/something out to be something He makes me out to be some sort of idiot. 6 make out a case (for something)RIGHT/JUSTIFIED to find good reasons that prove something or show why you need something We made out a case for hiring another assistant.7 succeed especially American EnglishSUCCEED IN DOING something to succeed or progress in a particular way SYN get on How did you make out this morning?8 sex informal especially American EnglishKISS to kiss and touch someone in a sexual way9 make out like a bandit American English informalGET to get or win a lot of money The lawyers made out like bandits. → make→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
make out• He's just making the booking form out.• Some crystals are so small, a microscope is needed to make them out.• He made out a cheque for $100.• Would you like me to make out a receipt for you?• Among the trees below, he could make out a yellow pick-up truck.• Two days later Joyce phoned to ask about the check, so I had to make out I'd already mailed it.• I could just make out Murphy in the bed next to mine.• They made it out to be a really interesting job, but in fact it was ridiculously boring.• If you want to pay by check, make it out to GK Fisher.• Who should I make the cheque out to?• We managed to fool the ticket collector by making out we couldn't speak English.• At first, I couldn't make out what I was seeing.• It was difficult to make out where the rocks ended and the sea began.make out who/what etc• It was hard to make out what he did think of other people.• He turned and made out what he thought was a doorway.• Then I heard Quigley's low bass, but couldn't make out what he was saying.• Pictures danced before my eyes, and at first I could not make out what I was seeing.• His lips seemed to be mouthing something, but Robert could not make out what it was.• He squinted to make out what Petey was up to in the yard.• He could not make out what was being said in the kitchen below.• The speaker was squeaky, but I could make out what was being said.make out what/how/why etc• It was hard to make out what he did think of other people.• He turned and made out what he thought was a doorway.• Then I heard Quigley's low bass, but couldn't make out what he was saying.• Pictures danced before my eyes, and at first I could not make out what I was seeing.• His lips seemed to be mouthing something, but Robert could not make out what it was.• He squinted to make out what Petey was up to in the yard.• He could not make out what was being said in the kitchen below.• The speaker was squeaky, but I could make out what was being said.make to• So he made what turned out to be a momentous decision.• This morning I made you out to be a serial killer!• There are some flaws, however, in her behaviour that make her turn out to be not so impressive.• This is not the sacrilege some have made it out to be.• Excusing himself with a bow he made his way out to find Richie waiting behind the stand.• It made one call out to her.• Fewer people make it out to the peninsula.• For tourists it is also very frustrating to have make journeys out to the suburbs to shop for food.make somebody/something out to be something• She was smaller now than her photos made her out to be.• This is not the sacrilege some have made it out to be.• Matthew: Matthew makes Judas out to be a greedy man who asked for money.• So he made what turned out to be a momentous decision.• This morning I made you out to be a serial killer!• Pope's enemies were rarely such fools as he made them out to be, and the Dissertation deserves attention.• There are some flaws, however, in her behaviour that make her turn out to be not so impressive.• Collision He's making me out to be some sort of thick, brainless loony on a self-destruct road to ruin.make out a case (for something)• Perhaps she should stay and try and make out a case for herself.• Both sides could make out a case that they deserved to win and should have been awarded penalties.make out like a bandit• Insurance companies always make out like bandits.• Salomon Brothers and my customer made out like bandits.From Longman Business Dictionarymake out phrasal verb1make out a cheque/bill etcBANKING to write a cheque, bill etc so that it can be paid to someoneCan you make the cheque out to me?2[intransitive] American English to succeed or progress in a particular wayHow did you make out at the interview? → make→ See Verb table 