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Glite Dictionary
to make your mark

to make your mark

11 4.1
To get noticed for your work in an area, for example in art or business
  • idiom
  • Informal
: hacerse un nombre
  • To survive in this world and make your mark, you need to be better than your competitors.
  • make your mark on the world
  • try to make your mark
  • ready to make your mark

We've got to stop demonizing work and we've got to start glorifying it in the sense of you can make your mark.

Examples

  • You want to make your mark.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • In the spirit of my sister, I encourage all of you to make your mark on this house tonight.

    Sisters (2015)

  • Take your place, make your mark, live your life.

  • That is if you still want to make your mark.

    The Good Dinosaur (2015)

  • I try to make my mark, but my physical presence is temporary.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • You can and you will make your mark on our country and our shared humanity.

  • As a result, career matters will be important, and you'll have a chance to make your mark.

    Blog text (2)

  • Thank you for making your mark for the advancement of photography and helping others learn from your experience and expertise.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Someday you'll all make your mark and I can't wait to see it.

    The Good Dinosaur (2015)

  • In the 1980s, Kathy Ireland made her mark as one of the top models of the time.

Synonyms

to make it
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
207 3.4

To become very successful in a job or career

stresses achieving recognized distinction within a particular field
to make history
vsto make your mark
61 4.1

To do something important that people will remember for a long time

is about gaining recognition and reputation rather than historical significance
to make a name for oneself
vsto make your mark
30 3.7

To become known for what you do by working hard

focuses on earning distinction or success rather than only fame
to leave a mark
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
18 3.9

To have a lasting effect on a person or thing that people notice

focuses more on personal recognition and notable success than broad impact
to make it big
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
18 4.1

Become very successful in a job or career

emphasizes lasting recognition and notable reputation beyond single success
to hit it big
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
9 5.1

To become very successful, often quickly

includes success and steady distinction, not only sudden major wins
to hit the big time
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
7 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

covers recognition and success more generally, not only major fame
to make one's mark
vsto make your mark
  • Informal
4.8

Get recognition and success in a field

is identical in meaning but uses the second person phrasing

Antonyms

to fail
898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Successful

to make your mark
  • Informal
11 4.1
to stand out
244 3.2

Surface Forms

make your mark infinitive
making your mark present participle
makes your mark third person singular
made your mark past
made your mark past participle

Morphology

make + your + mark

The meaning 'to achieve recognition or distinction' is directly derivable from combining 'make' (to create/produce) with 'your mark' (a memorable impression or accomplishment). This is a transparent compositional metaphor — literally creating an impression — and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

Make your mark comes from the image of someone leaving a visible mark, for example carving a name on a wall or putting a stamp on a piece of work to show they did it. So, to make your mark now means to do something people remember or to 'achieve recognition'.