make up

phrasal verb
Word forms "make up":
present tense I/you/we/they make up he/she/it makes up present participle making up past tense made up past participle made up

1) [transitive] to invent an explanation for something, especially in order to avoid being punished or embarrassed

He made up some excuse about the dog eating his homework.

2) [transitive] to invent a story, poem etc

They made up a little poem and wrote it in the card.

3) make up something

[transitive] to combine together to form something larger

Women make up 40 per cent of the workforce.

This book is made up of twelve separate short stories.

4) [transitive] to prepare or arrange something

I'll get the chemist to make this prescription up for you.

Could you make up a list of all the things we need?

make up a bed:

You should stay the night – I'll make up a bed for you.

5) make up something

[transitive] to make an amount or a number complete

I'm paying £500, and Dave is making up the rest.

6) [intransitive] to become friendly with someone again after an argument

Why don't you two forget your differences and make up?

kiss and make up:

They argue a lot, but they always kiss and make up.

make up with:

Tom still hasn't made up with Alice.

7) [transitive] to work at different times from usual because you have not worked enough at the normal times

Sorry I'm late; I'll make up the time this evening.

8) [transitive] to produce something from cloth

You could make up some new curtains from that material.

9) [transitive] to put make-up on someone's face

They made my face up to look like a clown.