Separable Object can go in the middle or after: "make it up" or "make up a story"
Inseparable Object always goes after the particle — never in the middle.
Intransitive No object needed — the verb stands alone.
make upSeparable
To invent a story; to reconcile after an argument; to apply cosmetics; to compensate for something missed.
"She made up an excuse for being late." / "They made up after not speaking for a week." / "She made up her face before the show."
make outSeparable
To see or hear clearly; to understand or interpret; to claim or pretend.
"I couldn't make out what he was saying — the room was too noisy." / "She made out that everything was fine, but it wasn't."
make up forInseparable
To compensate for something negative; to replace what was lost or missed.
"Working extra hours this week will make up for the time she lost." / "Nothing can make up for those missed years."
make doIntransitive
To manage with whatever is available, even if it's not ideal.
"We didn't have a table, so we made do with boxes as seats." / "You have to make do with what you have."
make off withInseparable
To steal something and escape with it quickly.
"Someone made off with her original design and submitted it under their own name."
make itIntransitive
To succeed in achieving a goal; to arrive or manage to attend; to survive a difficult situation.
"She finally made it as an independent designer." / "Can you make it to the meeting at 3?"
make forInseparable
To move toward a place or goal; to contribute to or produce a result.
"After the show, she made for the exit." / "Good communication makes for a stronger team."
make ofInseparable
To understand, interpret, or form an opinion about something.
"What do you make of his behavior?" / "I don't know what to make of the new policy."
make overSeparable
To completely transform the appearance of a person, space, or situation; to transfer ownership formally.
"She made over her entire studio — new walls, new lighting, new energy." / "He made over the property to his children."
make believeIntransitive
To pretend; to imagine something is true when it isn't.
"She refused to make believe that the problem would solve itself." / "Children love to make believe they're on adventures."
📖 Isabela's New Chapter
At twenty-eight, Isabela decided to make over her life completely. She had spent six years working for someone else's fashion brand — long hours, low pay, and little credit for her ideas. She had been told she would never make it on her own. But Isabela refused to make believe that her situation would improve without action.
She quit her job and launched her own label with almost nothing. In the beginning, she had to make do with a secondhand sewing machine and fabric from the weekend markets. Not everything was easy to make out — the industry's response was mixed, and she couldn't always tell who genuinely supported her and who didn't. Then a competitor made off with one of her original designs, submitting it to a national competition under their own name. Isabela found out, reported it publicly, and won.
Making up for the years she had spent working under someone else's name, she gave everything to her own brand. She wasn't always sure what to make of the critics — some loved her work, others found it difficult to interpret. She made for innovation, not approval.
Her breakthrough collection made up for every sacrifice. It sold out within a week. She later made up with a former colleague she had fallen out with years before, and together they made over her studio — new walls, new lighting, new energy.
"You don't have to be perfect," she says. "You just have to make it work."
