make the grade

phrase

Definition of make the gradenext
as in make it
to reach a desired level of accomplishment There were many applicants for the position, but only a few made the grade for an interview.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 make the grade At National Mortgage Center, another DSCR lender, even buyers of short-term rentals can often be approved, and sometimes multifamily projects of more than five units make the grade. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for make the grade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make the grade
  1. make it
  2. get there
  3. get ahead
  4. get somewhere
  5. make good
  6. cut it
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
  • Maintaining Institutional Knowledge In my experience, some of the most important operational information never makes it into a database at all.
    — Justin Wisor, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of make it
Phrase
  • With his stand-up, Rock avoided being fake edgy; his analogy for how to get there is a pharmaceutical company making a cancer drug.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Just be sure to get there on the early side in the evenings to secure a prime spot next to a firepit.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of get there
Phrase
  • This is actually a great opportunity to get ahead of all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping chaos.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In my view, the government must get ahead of that curve by establishing a full-fledged Department of AI, rather than leaving it to a single individual.
    — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of get ahead
Phrase
  • After spending 26 years trying to get somewhere, this copy won’t be going back in the mail.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Some are predicting that Colorado defenseman Cale Makar will get somewhere in the $18 million to $20 million range before the start of September’s training camps.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 12 July 2026
Definition of get somewhere
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 make good
Phrase
  • Bouchard scored twice in the second period, sparking Edmonton's rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the frame on a long wrist shot through traffic.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Bouchard scored twice in the second, sparking Edmonton’s rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the period on a long wrist shot through traffic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of cut it

Browse Nearby Words

makes way
make the grade
make tracks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make the grade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20the%20grade. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Luddite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All