make out

verb

1. (tr) to discern or perceive

   can you make out that house in the distance?

2. (tr) to understand or comprehend

   I can't make out this letter

3. (tr) to write out

   he made out a cheque

4. (tr) to attempt to establish or prove

   he made me out to be a liar

5. (intr) to pretend

   he made out that he could cook

6. (intr) to manage or fare

   how did you make out in the contest?

7. informal,  to engage in necking or petting

   Alan is making out with Jane

Idioms and Phrases

Discern or see, especially with difficulty, as in I can hardly make out the number on the door . [Mid-1700s]

Manage, get along, as in How did you make out with the accountant? This usage was first recorded in 1820.

Engage in sexual foreplay or intercourse, as in Bill and Jane were making out on the sofa , or Joe bragged that he made out last night . [ Slang ; early 1900s]

Understand, as in I can't make out what she is trying to say . [Mid-1600s] Also see can't make head or tail of .

Establish or prove, as in He made out that he was innocent . [ Colloquial ; mid-1600s]

Imply or suggest. This usage often occurs with an infinitive, as in Are you making me out to be a liar? [ Colloquial ; mid-1600s]

Write out, draw up; fill in a written form. For example, He made out the invoices , or Jane started making out job applications . This usage was first recorded in 1465.

Example Sentences

A gay Republican club thrives in the county, and gay civil rights attorney John Duran says: “Orange County is not the conservative monster that it’s made out to be. I think it’s more libertarian.”

From Los Angeles Times

We zoomed in on the image, but the quality is too poor to make out what the dark shape pictured is.

From BBC

Mr Carey was forced back on to the seat behind him and you can just about make out him trying to kick towards the defendant.

From BBC

Others say calls to the phone are made out of sheer boredom.

From Los Angeles Times

We were at a cast lunch, and he says, “Yeah, we don’t have people making out in broom closets.”

From Los Angeles Times