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Phrasal Verbs 1 min read Published January 2025 10 learners asked about this

What does "make up" mean? All meanings explained.

Make up has five main meanings:1. Reconcile after a disagreement:"They argued but made up the next day."2. Invent a story or lie:"He made up an excuse for being late.""Did you make that story up?"3.

Make up has five main meanings

1. Reconcile after a disagreement

"They argued but made up the next day."

2. Invent a story or lie

"He made up an excuse for being late."
"Did you make that story up?"

3. Apply cosmetics

"She's making up before the interview."
"Make-up" (noun) = cosmetics.

4. Constitute or form

"Women make up 60% of the workforce."
"The team is made up of five people."

5. Compensate for something missed

"I need to make up the hours I missed."
"Can we make up for lost time?"

How to tell them apart

Context is almost always clear. "They made up" = reconciled. "He made it up" = invented it. "She made up" = applied cosmetics.

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All uses are casual to professional depending on context.

Frequently asked

What does "make up" mean?

Make up has five main meanings:1. Reconcile after a disagreement:"They argued but made up the next day."2. Invent a story or lie:"He made up an excuse for being late.""Did you make that story up?"3.

Is "make up" formal or informal?

All uses are casual to professional depending on context.

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