Phrase guide

make it up to

verb · 2 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 pay back; to return someone a previous good deed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • After John gave her a lovely wooly hat for her birthday, she wanted to make it up to him so she took him out for dinner.
  • You've been so kind to me, how can I make it up to you?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To redeem oneself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 回報 /回报 (huíbào) — return someone a previous good deed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 報恩 /报恩 (bào'ēn) — return someone a previous good deed
  • Finnish: korvata — return someone a previous good deed
  • Finnish: hyvittää — return someone a previous good deed
  • Italian: ricambiare — return someone a previous good deed
  • Spanish: recompensar — return someone a previous good deed
  • Spanish: resarcir — return someone a previous good deed
  • Spanish: compensarlo — return someone a previous good deed
  • Spanish: recuperarlo — return someone a previous good deed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 自我救贖 /自我救赎 (zìwǒ jiùshú) — to redeem onself
  • Chinese Mandarin: 洗心革面 (xǐxīngémiàn) — to redeem onself
  • Finnish: hyvittää — to redeem onself