Put together, construct or compose, as in The druggist made up the prescription , or The tailor said he could make up a suit from this fabric . This usage was first recorded in 1530.
cosmetics, such as powder, lipstick, etc, applied to the face to improve its appearance
the cosmetics, false hair, etc, used by an actor to highlight his features or adapt his appearance
the art or result of applying such cosmetics
the manner of arrangement of the parts or qualities of someone or something
the arrangement of type matter and illustrations on a page or in a book
mental or physical constitution
(tr) to form or constitute
these arguments make up the case for the defence
(tr) to devise, construct, or compose, sometimes with the intent to deceive
to make up a song
to make up an excuse
(tr) to supply what is lacking or deficient in; complete
these extra people will make up our total
(tr) to put in order, arrange, or prepare
to make up a bed
to compensate or atone (for)
his kindness now makes up for his rudeness yesterday
to settle (differences) amicably (often in the phrase make it up )
to apply cosmetics to (the face) to enhance one's appearance or so as to alter the appearance for a theatrical role
to assemble (type and illustrations) into (columns or pages)
(tr) to surface (a road) with asphalt, concrete, etc
(tr)
to set in order and balance (accounts)
to draw up (accounting statements)
to decide (about something or to do something)
he made up his mind to take vengeance
informal
to make friendly overtures to
to flirt with
Put together, construct or compose, as in The druggist made up the prescription , or The tailor said he could make up a suit from this fabric . This usage was first recorded in 1530.
Constitute, form, as in One hundred years make up a century . [Late 1500s]
Change one's appearance; apply cosmetics. For example, He made himself up as an old man . [c. 1800]
Devise a fiction or falsehood; invent. For example, Mary is always making up stories for her children , or Is that account true or did you make it up? This usage was first recorded in 1828.
Compensate for, provide for a deficiency, as in Can you make up the difference in the bill? or What he lacks in height he makes up in skill . This usage was first recorded in 1538. Also see make up for lost time .
Repeat a course, take a test or do an assignment at a later time because of previous absence or failure. For example, Steve will have to make up calculus this summer , or The professor is letting me make up the exam tomorrow .
Also, make it up . Resolve a quarrel, as in The Sweeneys argue a lot but they always make up before going to sleep , or Will you two ever make it up? The first usage was first recorded in 1699, the variant in 1669.
Put in order, as in We asked them to make up the room for us , or Can you make up another bed in this room? [Early 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with make up .
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rheon said make-up artists used heavy moisturiser to portray characters sweating - with the actual weather conditions "changeable" at best - as they filmed the BBC portrayal of Liz Jensen's bestselling novel.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
If one of them wants to buy clothes, make-up or go to the pub they can do that without feeling watched and "it means we aren't accountable to each other for those things", says Max.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
But within hours, AI-generated images were created, with one showing him laughing as a make-up artist touched up the blood on his face.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
She has long, manicured nails and she's wearing make-up, but it's natural-looking.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
Knowing how Dad disliked make-up and perfume, we were afraid he was going to make Anne’s friend change her place at the table or, worse still, order her to go upstairs and wash herself.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Nationwide, the birthrate is falling even more dramatically for Hispanic women, who make up a sizable share of the population in some cities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The firm says it isn’t seeing a slowdown from institutional investors, which make up much of its investor base.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
They first appeared in Guernsey in 2017 and the States said the non-native, invasive species poses a major threat to the island's biodiversity and honeybees, which make up 39% of its diet on average.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
"The hair, the make up, everything was applied by hand and it took about four hours - and at the end of the day they would scrub me down."
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Ella couldn't make up her mind, partly because there was so much to taste, and the other kids at the table kept staring at her.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
