make up (for)

verb

Definition of make up (for)next
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective the lavish present almost made up for her forgetting his birthday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for make up (for)
  1. offset
  2. correct
  3. neutralize
Verb
  • Longer life offsets costs The researchers also examined whether the additional electronics could be economically justified.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The interior swims in faded blues, mint greens and powdery neutrals with neoclassical moldings, offset by black lacquer, frosted glass, mosaics and polished metal.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of offset
Verb
  • At one point during Thursday’s 45-minute open practice/scrimmage situation, KU head coach Bill Self corrected Rosario for passing instead of taking the open 3-pointer.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers must develop systems that detect and correct these errors while computations continue.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct
Verb
  • The compound also acts as a potent antioxidant, neutralizing unstable molecules that build up in non-healing wounds and cause cellular damage.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Several said this one would be nice spread on toast or mixed into baked goods to neutralize some of the sweetness.
    — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutralize
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.

Browse Nearby Words

makeup
make up (for)
makeups
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make up (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make%20up%20%28for%29. 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