adj · noun · 5 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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/ˈmeɪkˌʃɪft/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M EY1 K SH IH2 F T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Made to work or suffice; improvised; substituted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They used the ledge and a few branches for a makeshift shelter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: jury-rigged
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A temporary (usually insubstantial) substitution.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A rogue; a shifty person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
done or made using whatever is available
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
crossed the river on improvised bridges
the survivors used jury-rigged fishing gear
the rock served as a makeshift hammer
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: improvised, jury-rigged
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stopgap, make-do
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: expedient
History
Etymology
Deverbal from make shift. First appears c. 1554, in the publications of H. Hilarie.
1560s. From make + shift.
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Basque:
behin-behineko
— made to work or suffice
Catalan:
provisional
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
因陋就簡的 /因陋就简的
(yīnlòujiùjiǎn de)
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
就地取材的
(jiùdìqǔcái de)
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
简易的
(jiǎnyì de)
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
臨時搭建的 /临时搭建的
(línshí dājiàn de)
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
臨時代用的 /临时代用的
(línshí dàiyòng de)
— made to work or suffice
Chinese Mandarin:
湊合的 /凑合的
(còuhe de)
— made to work or suffice
Czech:
provizorní
— made to work or suffice
Czech:
dočasný
— made to work or suffice
Czech:
improvizovaný
— made to work or suffice
Dutch:
provisorisch
— made to work or suffice
Dutch:
voorlopig
— made to work or suffice
Dutch:
geïmproviseerd
— made to work or suffice
Dutch:
nood-
— made to work or suffice
Dutch:
tijdelijk
— made to work or suffice
Finnish:
hätävara-
— made to work or suffice
Finnish:
tilapäis-
— made to work or suffice
French:
de fortune
— made to work or suffice
French:
improvisé
— made to work or suffice
German:
behelfsmäßig
— made to work or suffice
German:
provisorisch
— made to work or suffice
Haitian Creole:
fortin
— made to work or suffice
Hebrew:
חלופי
(khalufí)
— made to work or suffice
Hebrew:
ארעי
(araí)
— made to work or suffice
Hebrew:
מאולתר
(meultár)
— made to work or suffice
Hindi:
कामचलाऊ
(kāmaclāū)
— made to work or suffice
Hindi:
चलाऊ
(calāū)
— made to work or suffice
Hindi:
जोड़-तोड़
(joṛ-toṛ)
— made to work or suffice
Italian:
improvvisato
— made to work or suffice
Italian:
di fortuna
— made to work or suffice
Italian:
provvisorio
— made to work or suffice
Italian:
arraffazzonato
— made to work or suffice
Japanese:
間に合わせの
— made to work or suffice
Japanese:
仮の
— made to work or suffice
Norwegian:
nødløsning
— made to work or suffice
Norwegian:
improvisert
— made to work or suffice
Polish:
prowizoryczny
— made to work or suffice
Portuguese:
improvisado
— made to work or suffice
Romanian:
provizoriu
— made to work or suffice
Russian:
вре́менный
(vrémennyj)
— made to work or suffice
Russian:
импровизи́рованный
(improvizírovannyj)
— made to work or suffice
Russian:
самоде́льный
(samodélʹnyj)
— made to work or suffice
Scottish Gaelic:
sealach
— made to work or suffice
