make
/meɪk/
verb
Origin
Old English
macian — to make, prepare, construct
Overview
Meaning Now
- to create, produce, or assemble something
- to cause something to happen or become true
- to earn, gain, or obtain
- to force or compel; to cause someone to do something
Language path
Old English → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
macian
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
Make is one of the core inherited verbs of English and remained extremely productive throughout the history of the language. Over time it developed a wide network of idiomatic and grammatical uses, as in make up, make sense, and make someone do something.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*makōjaną
“to make, prepare”
Reconstructed ancestral verb of the West Germanic branch.
- Old English
macian
“to make, prepare, construct”
Inherited West Germanic verb; broad sense of preparing or making.
- Middle English
maken
“to make, do, cause”
Verb continues with expanded and highly productive uses.
- Modern English
make
“to create, cause, earn, or produce”
Standard modern verb with many lexical and grammatical uses.
Connections
Word parts
make
root
to create or cause to exist
Related across languages
German
machen
to make, do
Dutch
maken
to make
Swedish
make
husband
Explore next
Related to make
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.