make amends

Meaning

To do something to correct a mistake, repair a relationship, or compensate for a wrong you have committed. It goes beyond a simple apology and involves taking action to make things right.

Examples

• He tried to make amends by buying her flowers, but she was still too upset to talk.

  He tried to make amends by buying her flowers, but she was still too upset to talk.

• After years of being estranged, she wanted to make amends with her brother.

  After years of being estranged, she wanted to make amends with her brother.

• The company offered a full refund to make amends for the poor service.

  The company offered a full refund to make amends for the poor service.

• I know I hurt your feelings, and I want to do whatever it takes to make amends.

  I know I hurt your feelings, and I want to do whatever it takes to make amends.

• It is never too late to make amends and rebuild a broken friendship.

  It is never too late to make amends and rebuild a broken friendship.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to make an amend to you.

  ✓ I want to make amends to you.

  The word 'amends' is always plural in this idiom. 'An amend' is grammatically incorrect.

• ✗ He made amends of his behavior.

  ✓ He made amends for his behavior.

  Use the preposition 'for' to indicate what you are apologizing or compensating for.

Related Expressions

Practice

• She wanted to ___ for forgetting her best friend's wedding.

  💡 repair the mistake or apologize

  Show answer

  make amends

• He is doing community service to ___ for his past actions.

  💡 compensate for a wrong

  Show answer

  make amends