make up

/ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/

//ˌmeɪk ˈʌp// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"make-up" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“make up” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To constitute, to compose.

Key facts for make up
PropertyValue
Headwordmake up
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “make up” sits in English frequency

make up falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for make up is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 18 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for make up, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English maken up, equivalent to make + up (adverb). The correct English form is make up, spelled M-A-K-E- -U-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    To constitute, to compose.
  2. 2
    To constitute, to compose.
  3. 3
    To compensate, to fill in, to catch up.
  4. 4
    To compensate, to fill in, to catch up.
  5. 5
    To invent, to imagine, to concoct
  6. 6
    To invent, to imagine, to concoct
  7. 7
    To assemble, to prepare.
  8. 8
    To assemble, to prepare.
  9. 9
    To assemble, to prepare.
  10. 10
    To apply cosmetics.
  11. 11
    To apply cosmetics.
  12. 12
    To make peace, to settle a dispute.
  13. 13
    To make peace, to settle a dispute.
  14. 14
    To arrange, to advance.
  15. 15
    To arrange, to advance.
  16. 16
    To arrange, to advance.
  17. 17
    To build, to complete.
  18. 18
    To build, to complete.

Etymology

From Middle English maken up, equivalent to make + up (adverb).

This word in other languages

reponer(Español)constituer(Français)wiedergutmachen(Deutsch)compensar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "make up"?
"make up" is spelled M-A-K-E- -U-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/.
What does "make up" mean?
As a verb, "make up" means: To constitute, to compose.
How do you pronounce "make up"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "make up" is /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "make up"?
From Middle English maken up, equivalent to make + up (adverb). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “make up”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-K-E- -U-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list