Make vs. Making — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 30, 2024
Make is the base form of a verb, implying creation or formation, whereas making is the present participle form, used to indicate ongoing action or process.
Difference Between Make and Making
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Make, as the base form of the verb, is used to talk about creating, forming, or performing something in a general sense. It can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence or be used with auxiliary verbs to form different tenses. On the other hand, making, the present participle of make, serves multiple functions. It can act as part of a continuous verb tense to describe actions that are currently happening or as a gerund, where it behaves like a noun.
When used in sentences, make often requires an object to complete its meaning, as it indicates the action of creating or producing something. For example, in "She wants to make a cake," make is used with an object (a cake) to describe the action of creating. Whereas, making can be used without a direct object in gerund form, as in "Making is part of the creative process," where it stands as the subject of the sentence.
The choice between make and making depends on the tense and aspect of the verb needed in a sentence. Make is used for simple present, simple past, and future tenses, reflecting actions that are general, completed, or will happen. In contrast, making is used for continuous tenses, indicating ongoing actions, or as a noun to discuss the concept or act of creation itself.
In instructional or procedural contexts, make often introduces commands or steps, such as in manuals or recipes, indicating a specific action to be performed. Making, however, is more likely to be found in discussions about the process or theory of creation, often in artistic or industrial contexts, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action.
The use of make versus making can subtly change the focus of a sentence from the act itself to the process or state of being involved in that act. While make is direct and to-the-point, making often implies a deeper engagement with the action, highlighting its continuous or habitual aspect.
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Comparison Chart
Form
Base form of the verb
Present participle/gerund
Use in Tenses
Simple present, past, future
Continuous tenses, gerund usage
Example Sentence
"I will make a dress."
"She is making dinner."
Function
Indicates action of creation
Indicates ongoing process or state
Contextual Use
Direct action, commands
Discussing the process, habitual action
Compare with Definitions
Make
Refers to the act of creating or producing something.
She wants to make a new friend at school.
Making
Emphasizes the ongoing process or act of creating.
Making art is her passion.
Make
Often used in the context of preparing food or meals.
I will make breakfast for the guests tomorrow morning.
Making
Focuses on the engagement in or the process of an activity.
Making friends at a new school can be challenging.
Make
Involves constructing or forming something physically or conceptually.
The company plans to make a significant investment in renewable energy.
Making
Highlights the continuous aspect of forming or constructing something.
They are making plans for the weekend.
Make
Can imply performing an action or task.
He needs to make a choice by the end of the day.
Making
Involves the ongoing production or generation of something.
The factory is making too much noise.
Make
Implies causing something to exist or come about.
This decision will make a lot of people happy.
Making
Indicates a habitual or repeated action.
Making mistakes is part of learning.
Make
To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create
Made problems for us.
Making a commotion.
Making
The act of one that makes
The making of a cake.
The making of excuses.
Make
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct
Make a dress.
Made a stone wall.
Making
The process of coming into being
Trouble in the making.
Make
To form by assembling individuals or constituents
We made a temporary information center using savvy volunteers.
Making
The means of gaining success or realizing potential
That job will be the making of you.
Make
To change from one form or function to another
Make clay into bricks.
Making
Something that is made, especially a quantity made at one time.
Make
To cause to be or become
Made her position clear.
A decision that made him happy.
Making
Often makings The abilities or qualities needed for development
You have the makings of a fine teacher.
Make
To cause to assume a specified function or role
Made her treasurer.
Made Austin his home.
Making
The material or ingredients needed for making something
All the makings for an apple pie.
Make
To cause to act in a specified manner
Heat makes gases expand.
Making
(Informal) The paper and tobacco for rolling a cigarette.
Make
To compel
Made him quit.
Making
The act of forming, causing, or constituting; workmanship; construction.
Make
To form in the mind
Make an estimate.
Making
Process of growth or development.
As a child, he didn’t seem like a genius in the making.
Make
To compose
Make verses.
Making
Present participle of make
Make
To prepare; fix
Make dinner.
Making
The act of one who makes; workmanship; fabrication; construction; as, this is cloth of your own making; the making of peace or war was in his power.
Make
To get ready or set in order for use
Made the bed.
Making
Composition, or structure.
Make
To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
Making
A poem.
Make
To engage in
Make war.
Making
That which establishes or places in a desirable state or condition; the material of which something may be made; as, early misfortune was the making of him.
Make
To carry out; perform
Make a phone call.
Make an incision.
Making
External appearance; from.
Make
To achieve, produce, or attain
Made peace between the two sides.
Not making sense.
Didn't make the quota.
Making
The act that results in something coming to be;
The devising of plans
The fashioning of pots and pans
The making of measurements
It was already in the making
Make
To institute or establish; enact
Make laws.
Make
To draw up and execute in a suitable form
Make a will.
Make
To arrange or agree to
Make a date.
Make
To arrive at; reach
Made Seattle in two hours.
Make
To reach in time
Just made the plane.
Make
To attain the rank or position of
Made lieutenant.
Make
To acquire a place in or on
Made the baseball team.
Made the newspapers.
Make
To gain or earn, as by working
Make money.
Make
To behave so as to acquire
Make friends.
Make
To score or achieve, as in a sport
Made a field goal.
Make
To assure the success of
Favorable reviews can make a play.
Make
To favor the development of
Practice makes a winning team.
Make
To be suited for
Oak makes strong furniture.
Make
To develop into
Will make a fine doctor.
Make
To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of
Don't know what to make of the decision.
Make
To calculate as being; estimate
I make the height 20 feet.
Make
To consider as being
Wasn't the problem some people made it.
Make
To constitute
They make a great team.
Make
To add up to
Two and two make four.
Make
To amount to
Makes no difference.
Make
To cover (a distance)
Made 200 miles before sunset.
Make
To constitute the essence or nature of
Clothes make the man.
Make
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding
Your being along really made the outing.
Make
To appear to begin (an action)
She made to leave.
Make
To act or behave in a specified manner
Make merry.
Make free.
Make
To begin or appear to begin an action
Made as if to shake my hand.
Make
To cause something to be as specified
Make ready.
Make sure.
Make
To proceed in a certain direction
Made for home.
Made after the thief.
Make
(Slang) To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like
Made like a ballerina.
Make
To undergo fabrication or manufacture
This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
Make
To rise or accumulate
The tide is making.
Make
The style or manner in which a thing is made
Disliked the make of my coat.
Make
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark
A famous make of shirt.
Make
The origin of a product's manufacturing
A bicycle of a French make.
Make
The physical or moral nature of a person
Found out what make of man he was.
Make
The physical nature or build of an animal or person
A horse of a beautiful make.
Make
(Slang) Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records
Did you get a make on the thief?.
Make
(transitive) To create.
Make
To build, construct, produce, or originate.
We made a bird feeder for our yard.
I'll make a man out of him yet.
He makes deodorants.
Make
To write or compose.
I made a poem for her wedding.
He made a will.
Make
To bring about; to effect or produce by means of some action.
Make war
They were just a bunch of ne'er-do-wells who went around making trouble for honest men.
Make
(religious) To create (the universe), especially (in Christianity) from nothing.
God made earth and heaven.
Make
(transitive) To prepare (food); to cook (food).
I'm making cereal for breakfast. Who wants some?
Make
To behave, to act.
To make like a deer caught in the headlights.
They made nice together, as if their fight never happened.
He made as if to punch him, but they both laughed and shook hands.
Make
(intransitive) To tend; to contribute; to have effect; with for or against.
Make
To constitute.
They make a cute couple.
This makes the third infraction.
One swallow does not a summer make.
Make
(transitive) To add up to, have a sum of.
Two and four make six.
Make
To interpret.
I don’t know what to make of it.
They couldn't make anything of the inscription.
What time do you make it?
Make
To bring into success.
This company is what made you.
She married into wealth and so has it made.
Make
To cause to be.
The citizens made their objections clear.
This might make you a bit woozy.
Did I make myself heard?
Scotch will make you a man.
Make
To cause to appear to be; to represent as.
Homer makes Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus, unlike Hesiod who depicted her as born from the sea foam.
Make
To cause (to do something); to compel (to do something).
You're making her cry.
I was made to feel like a criminal.
Make
To force to do.
The teacher made the student study.
Don’t let them make you suffer.
Make
To indicate or suggest to be.
His past mistakes don’t make him a bad person.
Make
To cover neatly with bedclothes.
Make
To recognise, identify, spot.
Make
To arrive at a destination, usually at or by a certain time.
We should make Cincinnati by 7 tonight.
Make
To proceed (in a direction).
They made westward over the snowy mountains.
Make for the hills! It's a wildfire!
They made away from the fire toward the river.
Make
(transitive) To cover (a given distance) by travelling.
Make
(transitive) To move at (a speed).
The ship could make 20 knots an hour in calm seas.
This baby can make 220 miles an hour.
Make
To appoint; to name.
Make
To induct into the Mafia or a similar organization (as a made man).
Make
To defecate or urinate.
Make
(transitive) To earn, to gain (money, points, membership or status).
They hope to make a bigger profit.
He didn't make the choir after his voice changed.
She made ten points in that game.
Make
(transitive) To pay, to cover (an expense); chiefly used after expressions of inability.
Make
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
Make
To enact; to establish.
Make
To develop into; to prove to be.
She'll make a fine president.
Make
To form or formulate in the mind.
Make plans
Made a questionable decision
Make
To perform a feat.
Make a leap
Make a pass
Make a u-turn
Make
(intransitive) To gain sufficient audience to warrant its existence.
In the end, my class didn't make, which left me with a bit of free time.
Make
(obsolete) To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; often in the phrase to meddle or make.
Make
(obsolete) To increase; to augment; to accrue.
Make
(obsolete) To be engaged or concerned in.
Make
To cause to be (in a specified place), used after a subjective what.
Make
To take the virginity of.
Make
(intransitive) Of water, to flow toward land; to rise.
Make
Brand or kind; model.
What make of car do you drive?
Make
Manner or style of construction (style of how a thing is made); form.
Make
Origin (of a manufactured article); manufacture; production.
The camera was of German make.
Make
A person's character or disposition.
Make
(dated) The act or process of making something, especially in industrial manufacturing.
Make
(uncountable) Quantity produced, especially of materials.
Make
(computing) A software utility for automatically building large applications, or an implementation of this utility.
Make
(slang) Identification or recognition (of identity), especially from police records or evidence.
Make
Past, present, or future target of seduction (usually female).
Make
A promotion.
Make
A home-made project
Make
(cards) Turn to declare the trump for a hand (in bridge), or to shuffle the cards.
Make
(basketball) A made basket.
Make
(physics) The closing of an electrical circuit.
Make
Mate; a spouse or companion; a match.
Make
A halfpenny.
Make
An agricultural tool resembling a scythe, used to cut (harvest) certain plants such as peas, reeds, or tares.
Make
A companion; a mate; often, a husband or a wife.
For in this world no woman isWorthy to be my make.
Make
Structure, texture, constitution of parts; construction; shape; form.
It our perfection of so frail a makeAs every plot can undermine and shake?
Make
To cause to exist; to bring into being; to form; to produce; to frame; to fashion; to create.
He . . . fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf.
Make
To produce, as something artificial, unnatural, or false; - often with up; as, to make up a story.
And Art, with her contending, doth aspireTo excel the natural with made delights.
Make
To cause to be or become; to put into a given state verb, or adjective; to constitute; as, to make known; to make public; to make fast.
Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?
See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh.
Make
To bring about; to bring forward; to be the cause or agent of; to effect, do, perform, or execute; - often used with a noun to form a phrase equivalent to the simple verb that corresponds to such noun; as, to make complaint, for to complain; to make record of, for to record; to make abode, for to abide, etc.
Call for Samson, that he may make us sport.
Wealth maketh many friends.
I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of the faults which I have made.
Make
To cause to appear to be; to constitute subjectively; to esteem, suppose, or represent.
He is not that goose and ass that Valla would make him.
Make
To execute with the requisite formalities; as, to make a bill, note, will, deed, etc.
He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time.
Make
To require; to constrain; to compel; to force; to cause; to occasion; - followed by a noun or pronoun and infinitive.
I will make them hear my words.
They should be made to rise at their early hour.
Make
To find, as the result of calculation or computation; to ascertain by enumeration; to find the number or amount of, by reckoning, weighing, measurement, and the like; as, he made the distance of; to travel over; as, the ship makes ten knots an hour; he made the distance in one day.
Who makes or ruins with a smile or frown.
Make
To become; to be, or to be capable of being, changed or fashioned into; to do the part or office of; to furnish the material for; as, he will make a good musician; sweet cider makes sour vinegar; wool makes warm clothing.
And old cloak makes a new jerkin.
Make
To compose, as parts, ingredients, or materials; to constitute; to form; to amount to; as, a pound of ham makes a hearty meal.
The heaven, the air, the earth, and boundless sea,Make but one temple for the Deity.
Make
To be engaged or concerned in.
Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole brotherhood of city bailiffs?
Make
To reach; to attain; to arrive at or in sight of.
They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side.
If a child were crooked or deformed in body or mind, they made him away.
Make the doors upon a woman's wit, and it will out at the casement.
He was all made up of love and charms!
Make
To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; - often in the phrase to meddle or make.
A scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make.
Make
To proceed; to tend; to move; to go; as, he made toward home; the tiger made at the sportsmen.
Make
To tend; to contribute; to have effect; - with for or against; as, it makes for his advantage.
Follow after the things which make for peace.
Considerations infiniteDo make against it.
Make
To increase; to augment; to accrue.
Make
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
To solace him some time, as I do when I make.
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled.
My lord of London maketh as though he were greatly displeased with me.
Make
A recognizable kind;
There's a new brand of hero in the movies now
What make of car is that?
Make
The act of mixing cards haphazardly
Make
Engage in;
Make love, not war
Make an effort
Do research
Do nothing
Make revolution
Make
Give certain properties to something;
Get someone mad
She made us look silly
He made a fool of himself at the meeting
Don't make this into a big deal
This invention will make you a millionaire
Make yourself clear
Make
Make or cause to be or to become;
Make a mess in one's office
Create a furor
Make
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Make
Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident
Make
Create or manufacture a man-made product;
We produce more cars than we can sell
The company has been making toys for two centuries
Make
Make, formulate, or derive in the mind;
I draw a line here
Draw a conclusion
Draw parallels
Make an estimate
What do you make of his remarks?
Make
Compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way;
People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!
Heat makes you sweat
Make
Create by artistic means;
Create a poem
Schoenberg created twelve-tone music
Picasso created Cubism
Auden made verses
Make
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
Make
Create or design, often in a certain way;
Do my room in blue
I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest
Make
To compose or represent:
This wall forms the background of the stage setting
The branches made a roof
This makes a fine introduction
Make
Reach a goal, e.g.,
Make the first team
We made it!
She may not make the grade
Make
Be or be capable of being changed or made into;
He makes a great host
He will make a fine father
Make
Make by shaping or bringing together constituents;
Make a dress
Make a cake
Make a wall of stones
Make
Perform or carry out;
Make a decision
Make a move
Make advances
Make a phone call
Make
Make by combining materials and parts;
This little pig made his house out of straw
Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer
Make
Change from one form into another;
Make water into wine
Make lead into gold
Make clay into bricks
Make
Act in a certain way so as to acquire;
Make friends
Make enemies
Make
Charge with a function; charge to be;
She was named Head of the Committee
She was made president of the club
Make
Achieve a point or goal;
Nicklaus had a 70
The Brazilian team got 4 goals
She made 29 points that day
Make
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
Make
Institute, enact, or establish;
Make laws
Make
Carry out or commit;
Make a mistake
Commit a faux-pas
Make
Add up to;
Four and four make eight
Make
Form by assembling individuals or constituents;
Make a quorum
The branches made a roof
Make
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
Make
Prepare for eating by applying heat;
Cook me dinner, please
Can you make me an omelette?
Fix breakfast for the guests, please
Make
Put in order or neaten;
Make the bed
Make up a room
Make
Head into a specified direction;
The escaped convict took to the hills
We made for the mountains
Make
Have a bowel movement;
The dog had made in the flower beds
Make
Undergo fabrication or creation;
This wool makes into a nice sweater
Make
Be suitable for;
Wood makes good furniture
Make
Amount to;
This salary increase makes no difference to my standard of living
Make
Constitute the essence of;
Clothes make the man
Make
Appear to begin an activity;
He made to speak but said nothing i the end
She made a if to say hello to us
Make
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Make
Reach in time;
We barely made the plane
Make
Gather and light the materials for;
Make a fire
Make
Assure the success of;
A good review by this critic will make your play!
Make
Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like;
She makes like an actress
Make
Consider as being;
It wasn't the problem some people made it
Make
Calculate as being;
I make the height about 100 feet
Make
Cause to be enjoyable or pleasurable;
Make my day
Make
Favor the development of;
Practice makes the winner
Make
Develop into;
He will make a splendid father!
Make
Behave in a certain way;
Make merry
Make
Eliminate urine;
Again, the cat had made on the expensive rug
Common Curiosities
Can making be used as a noun?
Yes, making can function as a gerund, acting like a noun in sentences to describe the action or process of creation.
Is there a difference in usage between make and making in professional contexts?
Yes, "make" often appears in direct commands or steps, while "making" may discuss processes or theories in professional or creative fields.
Is making always part of continuous tenses?
Mostly, yes, but it can also be a gerund, acting like a noun in sentences.
How do make and making relate to each other in grammar?
"Making" is derived from "make," serving as its present participle form for continuous tenses or as a gerund.
How do you know when to use make or making in a sentence?
It depends on the tense and aspect: use "make" for simple tenses and "making" for continuous actions or as a gerund.
Can both make and making be followed by an object?
"Make" typically requires an object to complete its meaning, while "making" can be used without a direct object, especially when functioning as a gerund.
What is the main difference between make and making?
Make is the base verb form, indicating a single or general action, while making refers to the ongoing process or act of creation.
Can the use of make versus making change the focus of a sentence?
Yes, "make" focuses on the act of creation, while "making" highlights the ongoing process or engagement in that act.
Are there idiomatic expressions that use make and making differently?
Yes, idiomatic expressions may use both forms to convey different meanings or emphasize various aspects of creation or action.
Is it possible to use making without implying an ongoing action?
When used as a gerund, it may not directly imply action but rather the concept or act of creation as a subject.
How do different verb forms of make and making affect sentence structure?
They determine whether a sentence describes a single, completed action or an ongoing process, affecting verb tense and sentence flow.
Can the transition from make to making indicate a shift in perspective?
Yes, shifting from "make" to "making" can indicate a focus on the process or experience of creating rather than the completion of an action.
How do auxiliary verbs work with make and making?
Auxiliary verbs combine with "make" to form different tenses, while "making" typically requires a form of "to be" to indicate continuous action.
Does the context of use affect the choice between make and making?
Absolutely, the choice depends on whether the context requires indicating a specific action or discussing an ongoing or habitual process.
Can the preference for make or making reflect a speaker's intention?
Yes, choosing between "make" and "making" can reflect whether the speaker wants to emphasize a single action or the ongoing nature of an activity.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
