make up for

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/meɪk ˈʌp fər/
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To counteract a loss or shortcoming, or repair harm done to another person.
Practice using make up for in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Can extra training make up for her lack of experience?
  • The final match made up for an otherwise disappointing season.
  • I hope this gift makes up for my mistake.
  • The warm welcome made up for the long journey.
  • They worked late to make up for the delay.

Similar words

make amends for
compensate for
atone for
counterbalance
compensate for
offset

Meanings

Offset a loss or drawback

compensation
neutral
To reduce the effect of something bad by providing something good in its place.

Examples

  • The warm welcome made up for the long journey.
  • Can extra training make up for her lack of experience?
  • The final match made up for an otherwise disappointing season.
  • Nothing can make up for the lost documents.
  • They worked late to make up for the delay.

Similar words

compensate for
offset
counterbalance

Repair a personal wrong

apology
neutral
To do or give something because one has disappointed or hurt someone and wants to repair the harm.

Examples

  • I hope this gift makes up for my mistake.
  • She apologized and tried to make up for her harsh words.
  • How can we make up for the trouble we caused you?
  • He offered to cook dinner to make up for forgetting her birthday.
  • A refund will not make up for how they treated us.

Similar words

make amends for
compensate for
atone for

Etymology

In this phrasal verb, make up has the sense of restoring a balance and for introduces what is lacking or what was done wrong.

FAQ

What does make up for mean?

To compensate for a loss, drawback or wrong.

Can a benefit make up for a drawback?

Yes. It can offset some of the disadvantage.

Can a gift make up for a mistake?

It may be offered to repair the harm, though it may not fully do so.

Is make up for separable?

No. In this pattern, for stays before the thing being compensated for.

What follows make up for?

A noun or -ing form naming the loss, problem or wrong.

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