Definition

Verb Phrase: 1. To succeed, especially after effort or difficulty; to achieve a goal or desired outcome. This meaning emphasizes overcoming challenges or meeting a specific standard to reach success. 2. To arrive at a destination or attend an event, especially when there was doubt or difficulty. This meaning focuses on successfully getting to a place or being present for an occasion. 3. To survive or endure a difficult situation; to pull through. This meaning emphasizes continuing to exist or function after a serious problem or adversity.

Usage Examples

• To Succeed:
  • After years of hard work, she finally made it as a professional musician.
  • The team worked tirelessly to make it to the championship finals.
• To Arrive or Attend:
  • The traffic is terrible, but I promise I'll make it to the meeting on time.
  • Despite the storm, all the guests managed to make it to the wedding.
• To Survive or Endure:
  • The doctors weren't sure if he would make it through the night after the accident.
  • This old car has made it through ten winters without a major problem.

Advanced Usage

• "Make it big": To achieve great fame or financial success.
  • He moved to Hollywood hoping to make it big in the movies.
• "Make it up to someone": To compensate someone for a disappointment or wrong you have caused them. (Note: This is a distinct phrasal verb with "make up").
  • I'm sorry I forgot your birthday. Let me make it up to you by taking you to dinner.

Variants and Related Words

• Make (verb): The base verb with many meanings, including to create, construct, or cause something to happen.
• Maker (noun): One who makes or creates something.
• Making (noun): The process of creating or producing something (e.g., "in the making").

Synonyms

• Succeed: To accomplish a desired aim or result.
• Arrive: To reach a destination.
• Survive: To continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.
• Pull through: To survive a dangerous or difficult situation.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Make do: To manage with the limited or inadequate means available.
  • We forgot the bread, so we'll have to make do with crackers.
• Make for: To go in the direction of; to help to make something possible.
  • Let's make for the exit. The dark clouds make for a dramatic photograph.

Related Idioms

• Make or break: Resulting in either total success or total failure.
  • This audition is a make-or-break opportunity for her career.
• Make the grade: To reach the required standard; to succeed.
  • The new product must make the grade with consumers to stay on the market.

Verb

1. go successfully through a test or a selection process
   • She passed the new Jersey Bar Exam and can practice law now
2. succeed in a big way; get to the top
   • After he published his book, he had arrived
   • I don't know whether I can make it in science!
   • You will go far, my boy!
3. continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)
   • He survived the cancer against all odds