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to make out

to make out

46 3.7
To write all needed information on a form or document
  • phrasal verb
  • /meɪk aʊt/
translation icon : rellenar
  • Hey, there's a check for $10,000 made out to Angel County Children's Center.
  • make out a check
  • make out to payee

Examples

  • I suppose I could make out my weekly report to Starfleet Command without your input.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I'm going to make out my report, while I can still remember the details.

  • - I had to make out a report.

  • I got a form for you to make out about the accident when you get some time.

  • If you would just take a moment to make out the check, I'll be on my way.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Make out the orders to captain le Bret immediately.

  • I've made out a check here for $2,500.

  • Three weeks earlier, Evie had made out a new will amending a previous one.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The documents were these: fourteen uncashed checks made out to one Dr. Ralph Constantine.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Please remember to make out the application form completely before submitting it.

Synonyms

to fill out
vsto make out
  • US
261 1.6

To write all the needed information on a form

is identical in meaning and includes checks and other documents
to fill in
vsto make out
  • UK
59 1.9

Write the information asked for on a form

means the same action when completing forms or checks
to write up
vsto make out
38 3.5

Put information into a complete report

focuses on filling practical form fields not producing formal reports
to write out
vsto make out
25 2.4

Put all the details on a form or paper

is limited to completing form fields rather than general detailed writing

Antonyms

66 3.4

Leave out something, for example a name, on purpose or by accident

12 4.4

Not include someone or something in a list

How Thorough

to finalize
  • US
74 3.8
to make out
46 3.7
to jot down
  • Informal
27 2.9

Surface Forms

make out infinitive
making out present participle
makes out third person singular
made out past
made out past participle

Morphology

make + out

The sense 'to kiss or have sexual activity' is an informal idiomatic reading of the phrasal verb that cannot be derived from the literal meanings of 'make' (to do or produce/succeed) and 'out' (away/outside). Because the expression is slangy, polysemous, and culture-specific rather than compositionally built from its parts, a B1 learner who only knows the constituents but has not seen the idiom would not reliably infer this meaning.

Etymology

Make out comes from the idea of 'making' a paper or bill out—putting all the information down so the document is ready. So it means 'to write or complete' a form or check.