Phrase guide

make do

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To survive, get by (with), or use whatever is available (due to lack of resources).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal, intransitive

Examples

  • There is barely enough money, so we will have to make do with what we have.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To put into action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, transitive

Examples

  • Make the movie do! (Put on the movie!)
  • Brandon’s makin’ the grill do so we can get to eatin’.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To use for one's purpose something worn, defective, or intended for another purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

come to terms with

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We got by on just a gallon of gas
  • They made do on half a loaf of bread every day

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cope, get by, make out, contend, grapple, deal, manage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, move

Narrower terms: improvise, extemporize, fend, hack, cut, scrape along, scrape by, scratch along, squeak by, squeeze by, rub along, meet, match, cope with

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

51 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 湊合 /凑合 (còuhe) — to get by (with)
  • Chinese Mandarin: 將就 /将就 (jiāngjiu) — to get by (with)
  • Czech: vystačit — to get by (with)
  • Danish: klare sig (med) — to get by (with)
  • Dutch: genoegen nemen — to get by (with)
  • Finnish: pärjätä — to get by (with)
  • Finnish: kelvata — to get by (with)
  • Finnish: tulla toimeen — to get by (with)
  • French: faire avec — to get by (with)
  • French: se débrouiller — to get by (with)
  • German: sich begnügen — to get by (with)
  • German: sich behelfen — to get by (with)
  • German: auskommen — to get by (with)
  • German: sich abfinden — to get by (with)
  • German: vorliebnehmen — to get by (with)
  • German: klarkommen — to get by (with)
  • German: hinkommen — to get by (with)
  • German: hinlangen — to get by (with)
  • German: hinreichen — to get by (with)
  • German: vorlieb nehmen — to get by (with)
  • German: zufriedengeben — to get by (with)
  • German: zurechtkommen — to get by (with)
  • Greek: αγγαρεύω (angarévo) — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: kijön — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: kihúz — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: megél — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: boldogul — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: elboldogul — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: beéri — to get by (with)
  • Hungarian: megelégszik — to get by (with)
  • Italian: farcela — to get by (with)
  • Italian: arrangiarsi — to get by (with)
  • Italian: far funzionare — to get by (with)
  • Japanese: 間に合わせる (maniawaseru) — to get by (with)
  • Japanese: やりくりする (yarikuri suru) — to get by (with)
  • Polish: radzić sobie — to get by (with)
  • Polish: poradzić sobie — to get by (with)
  • Polish: obywać się — to get by (with)
  • Polish: obyć się — to get by (with)
  • Portuguese: sobreviver — to get by (with)
  • Russian: справля́ться (spravljátʹsja) — to get by (with)
  • Russian: спра́виться (správitʹsja) — to get by (with)
  • Russian: обходи́ться (obxodítʹsja) — to get by (with)
  • Russian: обойти́сь (obojtísʹ) — to get by (with)
  • Spanish: apañárselas — to get by (with)
  • Swedish: klara — to get by (with)
  • Turkish: yetinmek — to get by (with)
  • Turkish: idare etmek — to get by (with)
  • Polish: zadowalać się — to use for one's purpose something worn, defective, or intended for another purpose
  • Polish: zadowolić się — to use for one's purpose something worn, defective, or intended for another purpose
  • Portuguese: quebrar o galho — to use for one's purpose something worn, defective, or intended for another purpose