MADE THE GRADE Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

made the grade

phrase

past tense of make the grade

as in succeeded

to reach a desired level of accomplishment There were many applicants for the position, but only a few made the grade for an interview.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of made the grade Other names that made the grade in 2027 include Alphabet, Apple , Coca-Cola, Dynatrace , Eli Lilly , Equinix and Williams Companies . — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026 Another Spanish-language filmmaker, Chile’s Pablo Larraín, has arguably already made the grade. — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for made the grade

Phrase

The Directors Guild of Korea (DGK) has also come to the defense of the filmmakers, arguing that the backlash has spilled over from the film to the lives and livelihoods of the people who made it.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
DeLonge has never been shy about supporting his home team, who have never won a World Series and last made it to the championship in 1998, when they were swept by the Yankees.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of made it

Phrase

Giving Fincher a chance to dabble in TV and animation are other areas that a place like Apple or Amazon may have been willing to throw a lot of money at, but Netflix got there first.

— Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Milinkovitch got there from the tuft on Gonzo’s head, Holtz from the shape of his hands.

— Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of got there

Phrase

Raiders field goal kicker Matt Gay had just made good on a 41-yard attempt on the first drive of the second half, extending Las Vegas’ lead to six points.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Freedom made good on his promise of legal action just weeks later.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of made good

Phrase

Henriquez replaced Sasaki and got ahead of Drake Baldwin, 1-and-2.

— Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
The Seattle right-hander got ahead in the count 1-2, but Happ kept his hands tucked on a down-and-in splitter to blast it off the right-field foul pole for his 22nd home run of the season.

— CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of got ahead

Browse Nearby Words

made sport of

made the grade

made-to-measure

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“Made the grade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/made%20the%20grade. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of made the grade

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