make out — to see, hear, or understand something with difficulty
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to see, hear, or understand something with difficulty
Pronunciation (IPA): /meɪk aʊt/
Example Sentences
- The detective couldn't make out the license plate number through the fog.
- My grandma asked me to make out her grocery list because her handwriting is terrible.
- I made out pretty well on my first job interview - I got the job!
make out
VERB[/meɪk aʊt/]
to see, hear, or understand something with difficulty
to see, hear, or understand something with difficulty
Hard to make out the face while prisoners break out - need to work out this case!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrasal verb 'make out' originated from the combination of the Old English verb 'make' (meaning to construct or produce) and the adverb 'out' (meaning away or outside). The compound developed from the literal sense of drawing something outward to reveal or clarify it, evolving into figurative meanings such as to understand, discern, or manage.
Breakdown
make (to construct, produce) + out (away, outside) = to bring forth clearly, to understand or discern. The particle 'out' intensifies the sense of revealing or making something manifest.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective couldn't make out the license plate number through the fog.”
“My grandma asked me to make out her grocery list because her handwriting is terrible.”
“I made out pretty well on my first job interview - I got the job!”
“The couple was making out so intensely that they didn't notice the fire alarm going off.”
📚Related Words
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