phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

make up for

to compensate for loss

What it means

To compensate for something missing, lost, or done badly. It is inseparable, and the thing being compensated for usually follows 'for' (a mistake, lost time, a weakness, and so on).

Examples

  • He bought her flowers to make up for forgetting her birthday.
  • Hard work can often make up for a lack of natural talent.
  • We're working late tonight to make up for yesterday's lost hours.
  • Nothing can make up for the loss of a close friend.

Where it comes from

From the older sense of 'make up' (to put right or complete), with 'for' indicating what is being balanced. Recorded since the 1600s and still used in all registers, from heartfelt apologies to business reports.

Related phrasal verbs

#pay back#account for#allow for#give back

🧩 Think you know your phrasal verbs?

Take the Phrasal Verbs Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.