make up — compensate for something lost or missed
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To do something to replace or fix a loss, mistake, or missed opportunity.
Say it like a native
Textbook I shall endeavour to compensate for the lost time.
Native I'll make up for the lost time.
'Make up for' is the everyday phrase for compensating; 'endeavour to compensate for' is stiff.
Pattern: make up for something
In use
- She worked extra hours to make up for the time she missed.work
- Many students try to make up for poor grades by studying harder in the next term.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I'll make up the lost time later.
✓ I'll make up for the lost time later.
To compensate, it's 'make up FOR' something. ('Make up' without 'for' means invent or reconcile.)
Common collocations
make up for— for lost time, for it, for the mistake, the difference
Don't confuse it
This sense is about replacing or fixing, not inventing or relationships.
Related
- make up (invent (a story, excuse, etc.)) — Another meaning of 'make up' is 'invent (a story, excuse, etc.)'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.