make up

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Understanding "Make Up"

The phrase "make up" can have several meanings in English, and it is often used as a verb. Here’s a simple explanation of its different uses, along with examples, synonyms, and related phrases.

Academic

Verb

1. apply make-up or cosmetics to one's face to appear prettier
   • She makes herself up every morning
2. come to terms
   • After some discussion we finally made up
3. adjust for
   • engineers will work to correct the effects or air resistance
4. put in order or neaten
   • make the bed
   • make up a room
5. make up something artificial or untrue
6. make up work that was missed due to absence at a later point
   • I have to make up a French exam
   • Can I catch up with the material or is it too late?
7. do or give something to somebody in return
   • Does she pay you for the work you are doing?
8. devise or compose
   • This designer makes up our Spring collections
9. form or compose
   • This money is my only income
   • The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
   • These constitute my entire belonging
   • The children made up the chorus
   • This sum represents my entire income for a year
   • These few men comprise his entire army

Synonyms

• reconcile
• patch up
• conciliate
• settle
• compensate
• counterbalance
• correct
• even out
• even off
• even up
• make
• fabricate
• manufacture
• cook up
• invent
• catch up with
• pay
• pay off
• constitute
• represent
• comprise
• be