making out

Verb

make out (third-person singular simple present makes out, present participle making out, simple past and past participle made out)

1. (transitive) To draw up (a document etc.), to designate (a cheque).
   • Cheques may be made out to the Foo Bar Company.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To send out.
   • The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job I:17

   Synonyms:

   detect, spot, squeeze, neck, grope, touch up, make whoopee

3. (transitive) To discern; to manage to see, hear etc.
   • In the distance, I could just make out a shadowy figure.

   Synonyms:

   descry

4. (US, intransitive, regional) To manage, get along; to do (well, badly etc.).
   • Oh, you were on a TV game show? How did you make out?

   Synonyms:

   make do

5. (ambitransitive) To represent; to make (something) appear to be true.
   • His version of the story makes me out (to be) the bad guy.
6. (US, intransitive, slang) To get along with (someone).
   • Him and I always make out well.

See all 9 meanings of make out