make of

Meaning

To 'make of' something or someone means to interpret, understand, or form an opinion about it. It is almost always used in questions (e.g., 'What do you make of...?') or negative statements expressing confusion.

Examples

• What do you make of the new boss? She seems a bit strict.

  What do you make of the new boss? She seems a bit strict.

• I don't know what to make of his sudden decision to quit his job.

  I don't know what to make of his sudden decision to quit his job.

• What did you make of that strange email we received this morning?

  What did you make of that strange email we received this morning?

• I can't make much of this abstract painting; it just looks like random shapes.

  I can't make much of this abstract painting; it just looks like random shapes.

• We didn't know what to make of her silent reaction to the exciting news.

  We didn't know what to make of her silent reaction to the exciting news.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ How do you make of this situation?

  ✓ What do you make of this situation?

  In English, we ask 'What do you make of...?' rather than 'How do you make of...?' when asking for an opinion.

• ✗ I don't know what to make about his behavior.

  ✓ I don't know what to make of his behavior.

  The correct preposition to use with this expression is 'of', not 'about' or 'for'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• What do you ___ the new company policy?

  💡 what is your opinion on

  Show answer

  make of

• I really don't know what to ___ his strange behavior lately.

  💡 how to interpret

  Show answer

  make of