Made vs. Make: What's the Difference?

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 18, 2023
"Made" is the past tense and past participle of "make," indicating that an action has been completed. "Make" is a verb in present tense, referring to the act of creating or producing something.

Key Differences
In English grammar, "Made" is employed to signify an action that has already occurred. "Make," in contrast, talks about an action that is happening now, or will happen in the future. "Made" often requires a time reference, while "Make" does not necessarily need one.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
The word "Made" is static, indicating that the creation or production process has reached completion. "Make" is dynamic, indicating ongoing or future activity. For example, "He made a chair" is a final statement, whereas "He will make a chair" suggests a future action.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
"Made" is often used in sentences that involve passive voice. "Make" is usually seen in active voice constructions. For instance, "The cake was made by her" is passive, whereas "She will make the cake" is active.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Another distinction comes in the area of phrasal verbs and expressions. "Made" forms several expressions like "made up," "made of," etc. "Make" can also be a part of numerous phrasal verbs like "make out," "make up," "make for," etc.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Phrasal Verbs
Part of expressions like "made of"
Part of expressions like "make up"

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Dependency
Often requires a time reference
Does not necessarily need a time reference

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Made and Make Definitions
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Make
To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create
Made problems for us.
Making a commotion.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Produced through a particular process.
The sculpture was made by chiseling marble.

Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Make
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct
Make a dress.
Made a stone wall.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To form by assembling individuals or constituents
We made a temporary information center using savvy volunteers.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Produced or manufactured by constructing, shaping, or forming. Often used in combination
Handmade lace.
Ready-made suits.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Produced or created artificially
Bought some made goods at the crafts fair.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to be or become
Made her position clear.
A decision that made him happy.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Having been invented; contrived
These made excuses of yours aren't plausible.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to assume a specified function or role
Made her treasurer.
Made Austin his home.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Artificially produced; pieced together; formed by filling in; as, made ground; a made mast, in distinction from one consisting of a single spar.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Having the sheets and blankets set in order; - of a bed; as, is the bed made?.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Successful or assured of success; as, a self-made man.
Now I am a made man forever.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
Produced by a manufacturing process;
Bought some made goods at the local store; rope and nails

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Made
(of a bed) having the sheets and blankets set in order;
A neatly made bed

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To achieve, produce, or attain
Made peace between the two sides.
Not making sense.
Didn't make the quota.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of
Don't know what to make of the decision.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding
Your being along really made the outing.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To undergo fabrication or manufacture
This wool makes up into a warm shawl.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
The style or manner in which a thing is made
Disliked the make of my coat.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark
A famous make of shirt.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
The physical or moral nature of a person
Found out what make of man he was.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
The physical nature or build of an animal or person
A horse of a beautiful make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(Slang) Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records
Did you get a make on the thief?.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To build, construct, produce, or originate.
We made a bird feeder for our yard.
I'll make a man out of him yet.
He makes deodorants.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To bring about; to effect or produce by means of some action.
Make war
They were just a bunch of ne'er-do-wells who went around making trouble for honest men.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(religious) To create (the universe), especially (in Christianity) from nothing.
God made earth and heaven.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(transitive) To prepare (food); to cook (food).
I'm making cereal for breakfast. Who wants some?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To behave, to act.
To make like a deer caught in the headlights.
They made nice together, as if their fight never happened.
He made as if to punch him, but they both laughed and shook hands.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(intransitive) To tend; to contribute; to have effect; with for or against.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To constitute.
They make a cute couple.
This makes the third infraction.
One swallow does not a summer make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To interpret.
I don’t know what to make of it.
They couldn't make anything of the inscription.
What time do you make it?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To bring into success.
This company is what made you.
She married into wealth and so has it made.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to be.
The citizens made their objections clear.
This might make you a bit woozy.
Did I make myself heard?
Scotch will make you a man.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to appear to be; to represent as.
Homer makes Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus, unlike Hesiod who depicted her as born from the sea foam.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause (to do something); to compel (to do something).
You're making her cry.
I was made to feel like a criminal.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To force to do.
The teacher made the student study.
Don’t let them make you suffer.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To indicate or suggest to be.
His past mistakes don’t make him a bad person.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To arrive at a destination, usually at or by a certain time.
We should make Cincinnati by 7 tonight.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To proceed (in a direction).
They made westward over the snowy mountains.
Make for the hills! It's a wildfire!
They made away from the fire toward the river.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(transitive) To move at (a speed).
The ship could make 20 knots an hour in calm seas.
This baby can make 220 miles an hour.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(transitive) To earn, to gain (money, points, membership or status).
They hope to make a bigger profit.
He didn't make the choir after his voice changed.
She made ten points in that game.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(transitive) To pay, to cover (an expense); chiefly used after expressions of inability.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(intransitive) To gain sufficient audience to warrant its existence.
In the end, my class didn't make, which left me with a bit of free time.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(obsolete) To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; often in the phrase to meddle or make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Origin (of a manufactured article); manufacture; production.
The camera was of German make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(dated) The act or process of making something, especially in industrial manufacturing.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(computing) A software utility for automatically building large applications, or an implementation of this utility.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(slang) Identification or recognition (of identity), especially from police records or evidence.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
(cards) Turn to declare the trump for a hand (in bridge), or to shuffle the cards.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
An agricultural tool resembling a scythe, used to cut (harvest) certain plants such as peas, reeds, or tares.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
A companion; a mate; often, a husband or a wife.
For in this world no woman isWorthy to be my make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Structure, texture, constitution of parts; construction; shape; form.
It our perfection of so frail a makeAs every plot can undermine and shake?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to exist; to bring into being; to form; to produce; to frame; to fashion; to create.
He . . . fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To produce, as something artificial, unnatural, or false; - often with up; as, to make up a story.
And Art, with her contending, doth aspireTo excel the natural with made delights.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to be or become; to put into a given state verb, or adjective; to constitute; as, to make known; to make public; to make fast.
Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?
See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To bring about; to bring forward; to be the cause or agent of; to effect, do, perform, or execute; - often used with a noun to form a phrase equivalent to the simple verb that corresponds to such noun; as, to make complaint, for to complain; to make record of, for to record; to make abode, for to abide, etc.
Call for Samson, that he may make us sport.
Wealth maketh many friends.
I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of the faults which I have made.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To cause to appear to be; to constitute subjectively; to esteem, suppose, or represent.
He is not that goose and ass that Valla would make him.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To execute with the requisite formalities; as, to make a bill, note, will, deed, etc.
He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To require; to constrain; to compel; to force; to cause; to occasion; - followed by a noun or pronoun and infinitive.
I will make them hear my words.
They should be made to rise at their early hour.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To find, as the result of calculation or computation; to ascertain by enumeration; to find the number or amount of, by reckoning, weighing, measurement, and the like; as, he made the distance of; to travel over; as, the ship makes ten knots an hour; he made the distance in one day.
Who makes or ruins with a smile or frown.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To become; to be, or to be capable of being, changed or fashioned into; to do the part or office of; to furnish the material for; as, he will make a good musician; sweet cider makes sour vinegar; wool makes warm clothing.
And old cloak makes a new jerkin.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To compose, as parts, ingredients, or materials; to constitute; to form; to amount to; as, a pound of ham makes a hearty meal.
The heaven, the air, the earth, and boundless sea,Make but one temple for the Deity.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To be engaged or concerned in.
Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole brotherhood of city bailiffs?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To reach; to attain; to arrive at or in sight of.
They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side.
If a child were crooked or deformed in body or mind, they made him away.
Make the doors upon a woman's wit, and it will out at the casement.
He was all made up of love and charms!

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; - often in the phrase to meddle or make.
A scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To proceed; to tend; to move; to go; as, he made toward home; the tiger made at the sportsmen.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To tend; to contribute; to have effect; - with for or against; as, it makes for his advantage.
Follow after the things which make for peace.
Considerations infiniteDo make against it.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
To solace him some time, as I do when I make.
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled.
My lord of London maketh as though he were greatly displeased with me.

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
A recognizable kind;
There's a new brand of hero in the movies now
What make of car is that?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Engage in;
Make love, not war
Make an effort
Do research
Do nothing
Make revolution

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Give certain properties to something;
Get someone mad
She made us look silly
He made a fool of himself at the meeting
Don't make this into a big deal
This invention will make you a millionaire
Make yourself clear

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Make or cause to be or to become;
Make a mess in one's office
Create a furor

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Create or manufacture a man-made product;
We produce more cars than we can sell
The company has been making toys for two centuries

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Make, formulate, or derive in the mind;
I draw a line here
Draw a conclusion
Draw parallels
Make an estimate
What do you make of his remarks?

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way;
People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!
Heat makes you sweat

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Create by artistic means;
Create a poem
Schoenberg created twelve-tone music
Picasso created Cubism
Auden made verses

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Create or design, often in a certain way;
Do my room in blue
I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
To compose or represent:
This wall forms the background of the stage setting
The branches made a roof
This makes a fine introduction

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Reach a goal, e.g.,
Make the first team
We made it!
She may not make the grade

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Be or be capable of being changed or made into;
He makes a great host
He will make a fine father

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Make by shaping or bringing together constituents;
Make a dress
Make a cake
Make a wall of stones

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Perform or carry out;
Make a decision
Make a move
Make advances
Make a phone call

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Make by combining materials and parts;
This little pig made his house out of straw
Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Change from one form into another;
Make water into wine
Make lead into gold
Make clay into bricks

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Charge with a function; charge to be;
She was named Head of the Committee
She was made president of the club

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Achieve a point or goal;
Nicklaus had a 70
The Brazilian team got 4 goals
She made 29 points that day

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Form by assembling individuals or constituents;
Make a quorum
The branches made a roof

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Prepare for eating by applying heat;
Cook me dinner, please
Can you make me an omelette?
Fix breakfast for the guests, please

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Head into a specified direction;
The escaped convict took to the hills
We made for the mountains

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Amount to;
This salary increase makes no difference to my standard of living

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Appear to begin an activity;
He made to speak but said nothing i the end
She made a if to say hello to us

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Induce to have sex;
Harry finally seduced Sally
Did you score last night?
Harry made Sally

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
Make
Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like;
She makes like an actress

Sawaira Riaz
Dec 22, 2022
FAQs
Is Made often used in passive constructions?
Yes, Made is commonly used in passive voice.

Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Can Made be used in present tense?
No, Made is strictly past tense or a past participle.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Is Make used in passive voice?
Make is typically used in active voice, though it can be used in passive voice as well.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Does Made always need a time reference?
Most often, Made requires some time reference to indicate when the action occurred.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
Does Make require a time reference?
Make does not necessarily require a time reference.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
What type of sentences often use Made?
Made is commonly used in sentences that describe completed actions.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can Made be used to describe future actions?
No, Made is not used to describe future actions.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
What is Make?
Make is a verb that refers to the act of creating, producing, or forming something.

Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can Made and Make be part of phrasal verbs?
Yes, both Made and Make are used in various phrasal verbs.

Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
What type of sentences often use Make?
Make is often used in sentences describing ongoing or future actions.

Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
What is a synonym for Make?
Create, produce, and construct are synonyms for Make.

Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
Can Make be used to describe completed actions?
No, for completed actions, the word Made is used.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
What is a synonym for Made?
Created, produced, and crafted are synonyms for Made.

Sara Rehman
Sep 18, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.

Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
