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

Or when you phone a company and the AI “assistant” that responds really can’t make out what you’re asking to route the call correctly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

"We had to make out own plan, I knew I couldn't allow our residents to experience something like that again," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 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

At first, it just looks like a mass of scribbles, but then I make out the crooked, wobbly letters that spell Boo.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko