make for
Britishverb
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to head towards, esp in haste
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to prepare to attack
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to help to bring about
your cooperation will make for the success of our project
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Have or cause to have a particular effect; also, help promote or further. For example, That letter of yours will make for hard feelings in the family , or This system makes for better communication . [Early 1500s]
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Go toward, as in They turned around and made for home . This usage originated in the late 1500s, but was not widely used until the 1800s. Also see made for .
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.
With Martinez equally unlikely to get his red card against the Elland Road outfit overturned, it leaves Carrick with a major decision to make for Saturday's crucial trip to Chelsea.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Research confirms that small teams are more likely to achieve major breakthroughs, even if it doesn’t make for the best stories.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
His catalogue of tricks and flicks in a City shirt this season would make for an impressive compilation on YouTube or TikTok.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
What a difference just five years can make for a once-hot shoe company that has turned into “kind of a cliché.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
“Well, don’t look at me. I’m a young god, remember? I don’t keep track of all those ancient monsters and dusty titans.. They make for terrible party conversation.”
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
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.
