make out

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the Marine Traffic map, which tracks world shipping movements, you can make out clusters of ships, mainly tankers, anchored far to the north near Kuwait, as well as off the coast near Dubai.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

It was difficult from my seat in the press gallery to make out much of what he was saying.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

Cordoning off their share of terrace was a pane of pebbled glass, through which Kertész could make out the forms of vacationing neighbors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

When Paula whispers something that Lilian can’t quite make out, just before the hypnotist brings her out of the spell, Lilian protests in English, “I need to hear her!”

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

Little did she know I could already make out some words from my long, boring days at Pet-O-Rama.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney