make up sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “make up sth” Mean?

“Make up sth” is a phrasal verb meaning to form or constitute something, or to compensate for something missing or lost.

Introduction

The phrase “make up sth” is common in English and has several important uses. It often means to form a whole from parts, such as “Women make up 60% of the team.” It can also mean to compensate for something, like making up missed work or time. Understanding the make up sth meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts. This phrase is versatile and appears in daily conversations, business, and writing. Knowing how to use it well improves communication and helps avoid confusion.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: make up sth (make up something)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To form or constitute something; to compensate for something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Make up sth” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) either after “make up” or between “make” and “up” when the object is a noun or pronoun.

• make up something (formal)
• make something up (common in speech)

Examples:

• Women make up 60% of the staff.
• She made the story up to explain her absence.

How to Use “make up sth”?

You can use “make up sth” to talk about parts forming a whole or to describe compensating for something. It is often followed by a noun that represents the thing being formed or compensated.

• To describe composition: “These five countries make up the whole continent.”
• To talk about compensation: “He worked extra hours to make up the time he missed.”

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “make up sth” in different contexts:

• Women make up 70% of the company’s workforce.
• The parts make up the entire machine.
• He made up the lost time by working on the weekend.
• These three chapters make up the introduction of the book.
• We need to make up the difference in the budget.

Using “make up sth in a sentence” helps learners see how this phrase fits naturally into English.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the position of the object or use the wrong meaning. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: She made up quickly the story.
• Correct: She made up the story quickly.
• Incorrect: They make the team up of five players.
• Correct: They make up the team of five players.

Remember, the object should be right after “make up” or between “make” and “up.”

Differences / Synonyms

“Make up sth” can be similar to “constitute,” “account for,” or “compensate for,” but there are differences:

• Make up sth emphasizes forming or compensating.
• Constitute is more formal and means to form or compose.
• Account for means to explain or be the reason for something.
• Compensate for means to make up for a loss or mistake, focusing on balance.

Example: “Women make up 60% of the team” vs. “Women constitute 60% of the team.”

Common Collocations

Here are common words used with “make up sth” and their meanings:

• Make up a team: to form a group of players or people
• Make up time: to compensate for lost time
• Make up a story: to invent a story
• Make up the difference: to compensate for a shortfall
• Make up a list: to form or complete a list

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of make up sth:

• Make It Up To Sb
• Make Up For Sth
• Make Up For Doing Sth
• Make Sb Out
• Make Sth Into Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “make up sth”:

Anna: How much of the project do we have left?

John: The last two sections make up about 30% of the work.

Anna: Great. We can make up the lost time by working overtime.

John: Yes, that’s a good plan.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “make up sth”:

• The small shops _________ 40% of the local market.
• She worked late to _________ the time she missed yesterday.
• These pieces _________ the entire puzzle.
• We need to _________ the difference before the deadline.

FAQs

• Q: Can “make up sth” be used in the passive voice?
  A: Yes, for example, “The team is made up of ten players.”
• Q: Is “make up sth” separable?
  A: Yes, you can put the object between “make” and “up” or after “make up.”
• Q: What level is “make up sth” suitable for?
  A: It is suitable for intermediate learners (B1 level).
• Q: Can “make up sth” mean to invent a story?
  A: Yes, “make up a story” means to create or invent something untrue.
• Q: How is “make up sth” different from “make sth up”?
  A: Both are the same phrasal verb; just the object placement changes.