make good
Idioms-
Carry out successfully, make sure of, as in He made good his escape . This usage was first recorded in 1606.
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Fulfill, as in She made good her promise . This usage was first recorded in Miles Coverdale's 1535 translation of the Bible (II Chronicles 6:16): “Make good unto my father, David ... that which thou hast promised him.”
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Compensate for, make up for, as in They made good the loss . This usage first appeared in William Langland's Piers Ploughman (1377).
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Succeed, as in He made good as a writer . [c. 1900]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When rabble-rousing Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie wanted to make good on Republican campaign messaging.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
It's a bold claim, and one the industry is under mounting pressure to make good on.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
That means they have a degree of financial responsibility to make good on the commitments made to the NFL when Los Angeles was awarded the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
Open spaces in London that could make good viewing spots include:
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“On Mars, I will make good decisions,” I say.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
