What is make up? Pronunciation and usage in English

make up means . Learn how to pronounce and use make up through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of make up

make upverb

Definition & pronunciation of make up

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "make up" in English. It's a tricky one for some learners because it has two distinct sounds. Here's a breakdown:

1. "Make" (pronounced like "make" in "make a sandwich"):

  • Sound: /meɪ/ (rhymes with "say" or "day")
  • Breakdown:
    • "M": Pronounced as a regular "M" sound.
    • "A": Short "a" sound, like in "cat."
    • "E": Long "e" sound, like in "say" or "name."

2. "Up" (pronounced like "up" in "up the stairs"):

  • Sound: /ʌp/ (rhymes with "cup" or "pup")
  • Breakdown:
    • "U": Short "u" sound, almost like "uh" (a quick, unstressed vowel). It's a very short, neutral sound.
    • "P": Pronounced as a regular "P" sound.

Putting it together:

The whole phrase "make up" is pronounced: /meɪk ʌp/

Tips for getting it right:

  • Syllable Stress: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("make"). You'll say "make" a bit louder and longer than "up."
  • The "uh" in "up": The key is to not pronounce the "uh" sound as a full syllable. It's very quick and subtle. Think of it more like a minimal sound.

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Translate: Type "make up" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. You’ll hear a native speaker pronounce it.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/make%20up/ - This website provides audio pronunciations from native speakers worldwide.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you some other common phrases to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word make up in English

Let's break down how to use the word "make up" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown, categorized with examples:

1. To Invent a Story or Excuse (Most Common)

  • Meaning: To create a false story or explanation to cover something up.
  • Example: “He made up an excuse for being late – said he got stuck in traffic.”
  • Example: “Don’t make up stories about me! It’s not true.”
  • Synonyms: fabricate, invent, concoct, fabricate

2. To Resolve a Conflict or Argument

  • Meaning: To reconcile with someone after an argument or disagreement.
  • Example: “They had a fight, but they made up quickly.”
  • Example: “I want to make up with my brother.”
  • Synonyms: reconcile, patch up, forgive

3. To Put Cosmetics on Your Face (Physical Appearance)

  • Meaning: To apply makeup to enhance your appearance.
  • Example: “She makes up with lipstick every morning.”
  • Example: “He made up for lost time with a carefully applied beard.” (This is less common, referring to applying a substance)

4. To Repair or Assemble Something

  • Meaning: To fix or put together something that's broken. (Less common usage)
  • Example: “I need to make up my mind about what to do.” (Figurative - "repair" your thoughts)
  • Example: "He's trying to make up the damage he caused." (Figurative - "repair" the situation)

5. To Form a Group or Combination (Numbers/Amounts)

  • Meaning: To add up to a certain total.
  • Example: “The bill came up to $50, so I made up the difference.” (Note: 'came up to' is often used with 'make up')
  • Example: “I have 3 red pencils and 2 blue pencils. I made up 5 pencils in total.”

6. (Phrasal Verb) “Make up with someone” – (Explained above in #2)

Key Considerations & Subtle Nuances:

  • Context is Crucial: The meaning of “make up” is almost always clear from the surrounding words.
  • Figurative vs. Literal: Sometimes “make up” is used figuratively (like with "make up your mind"), and other times it’s a literal description of applying cosmetics.

Resources for More Examples:

To help me give you an even more tailored explanation, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., “I want to use it to describe a lie,” or “I want to learn how to use it when talking about relationships.”)

Synonyms for the word make up

Practice with vocabulary make up

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The diverse backgrounds and skills of the team members jointly ______ the strength of our research department.
  2. The spokesperson had to quickly ______ a plausible explanation for the unexpected policy change.
  3. She needed to work overtime to ______ for the hours lost due to the national holiday.
  4. The board of directors managed to ______ their long-standing disagreements and reach a unanimous decision.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The essential oils and natural extracts ______ the core ingredients of this organic cosmetic line. A) compose B) constitute C) make up D) devise
  2. During the debriefing, the project manager had to ______ an excuse for the budget overrun. A) invent B) create C) make up D) fabricate
  3. After their heated debate in the meeting, the two colleagues decided to ______ over coffee. A) reconcile B) resolve C) make up D) settle
  4. The design team worked tirelessly to ______ a comprehensive blueprint for the new facility. A) formulate B) craft C) devise D) contrive
  5. Despite the initial challenges, the team managed to ______ the tight deadline by working efficiently. A) meet B) achieve C) overcome D) surpass

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Women constitute over sixty percent of the workforce in this department. Rewrite: Over sixty percent of the workforce in this department ________.
  2. The child completely invented a fantastic tale about a talking unicorn. Rewrite: The child completely ________ a fantastic tale about a talking unicorn.
  3. His dedication and hard work compensated for his lack of experience. Rewrite: His dedication and hard work ________ his lack of experience.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The diverse backgrounds and skills of the team members jointly make up the strength of our research department.
  2. The spokesperson had to quickly make up a plausible explanation for the unexpected policy change.
  3. She needed to work overtime to compensate for the hours lost due to the national holiday.
  4. The board of directors managed to resolve their long-standing disagreements and reach a unanimous decision.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. A) compose, B) constitute, C) make up
  2. A) invent, C) make up, D) fabricate
  3. A) reconcile, C) make up, D) settle
  4. A) formulate, B) craft, C) devise
  5. A) meet, B) achieve, C) overcome, D) surpass

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Over sixty percent of the workforce in this department is made up of women.
  2. The child completely made up a fantastic tale about a talking unicorn.
  3. His dedication and hard work offset his lack of experience.

Comment ()