to make one's way
1
3.4
- phrasal verb
- Despite the heavy rain, the hikers persevered and made their way to the cabin.
Examples
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From all over, American boys are making their way across the Atlantic to learn how to fly.
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All passengers must make their way to Gate 19.
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Keep 'em busy while we make our way up.
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But in time I learned I had to make my way with this.
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Soon he was making his way around the valley taking a great interest in everything.
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But it does require a strong act of the will to make one's way to church on a Saturday afternoon.
Blog text (4) -
Please can we ask you to make your way to your seats.
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And it's through Manchester Airport today and tomorrow that the majority are making their way.
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We'll make our way in at the fore, then check the bridge, okay?
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Make your way to the dance floor ‒ and form sets for strip the willow.
Synonyms
842
3.3
To think of a plan to get past a problem
659
2.8
To reach a place or goal after overcoming problems
562
3.7
To arrive at a place or event even with problems
98
3.6
To keep going despite problems until you finish
52
3.1
To keep making progress despite problems
48
4.3
To go past a problem and start something better
32
3.5
To make slow progress when it is difficult
10
3.6
To keep moving forward step by step despite problems
5
3.7
To move forward steadily despite problems
2
4.2
To make a way through something, physically or by creating new opportunities
1
5.3
To keep trying and do well despite difficult times
1
3.6
To reach a place or learn how to keep going after difficulty
1
4.9
To become successful and have a better life by working hard
1
3.9
Move forward by getting past people or things blocking the way
To move forward despite strong opposition or many difficulties
Move forward through a crowd by forcing people aside with your body
Antonyms
How Far
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase directly composes 'make' (to reach/succeed in arriving) + 'one's' (possessive) + 'way' (route), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it means to move or progress along a route or through obstacles. This is a predictable, compositional pattern found in many languages and therefore readily understandable to B1 learners who know the words.
Etymology
The phrase make one's way gives the image of someone making a path: to make a way through a crowd, trees, or a river to go forward. So it means 'to move forward or make progress', often while getting past problems.