Browse all

make up

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

Invent something that isn't true; stop fighting with someone; form a total amount; put on cosmetics.

Meanings

1 A2 idiomatic informal

To invent a story, excuse, or lie, especially to deceive someone.

"He made up an elaborate story about why he was late."

"I didn't make it up. Everything I told you is true."

— Gone Girl, dir. David Fincher, 2014
Grammar: separable
2 A2 idiomatic informal

To resolve a quarrel and return to friendly relations.

"After their argument, the siblings made up and hugged each other."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To form or constitute a whole or a percentage of something.

"Women make up more than half of the university's student population."

"Immigrants make up a large share of the essential workforce."

— The New York Times, April 2020
Grammar: inseparable
4 A2 neutral

To apply cosmetics to the face.

"She made herself up carefully before the job interview."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Extremely high-frequency and polysemous. The 'constitute' sense is often passive ('women make up 50% of the workforce'). The cosmetics sense functions as a noun ('make-up') as well as a verb.

Commonly used with

story excuse lie difference percentage face

Forms

Base
make up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
makes up
he/she/it
Past simple
made up
yesterday
Past participle
made up
have + pp
-ing form
making up
continuous

Understand "make up" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

invent reconcile constitute fabricate apply cosmetics compose

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "make up" on Looplines