make for
2 meanings
move quickly towards a place or person
What does "make for" mean in this sense?
Examples
- As soon as the storm broke, the sailors made for the nearest harbour.
- She made for the exit the moment the alarm sounded.
- When they realised they were lost, they made for the lights in the distance.
How to use it
The core pattern: a person or animal moves with purpose towards a named destination. The destination always follows 'for' directly — nothing goes between 'make' and 'for'.
As smoke began to fill the building, everyone made for the nearest stairwell.
The continuous form works well when describing movement that is already in progress, particularly in narrative contexts.
By the time the coastguard spotted them, the boat was already making for the shore.
Destinations can be semi-abstract as long as they imply a clear physical place or direction, such as 'cover', 'safety', or 'open ground'.
When the thunder started, the hikers made for cover under the trees.
The simple past is the most common tense for this phrasal verb, especially in storytelling or accounts of past events.
The moment the whistle blew, the prisoner made for the gap in the fence.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Because 'make for' requires a specific destination, pronouns like 'it' or 'there' sound unnatural as objects. Always name the place rather than replacing it with a pronoun.
When the object is an abstract quality like 'good reading' or 'an interesting atmosphere', 'make for' has a completely different meaning — it means to contribute to or result in something. When the object is a physical place, it means to move towards it.
'Make for' implies urgency or a clear reason for moving — it sounds odd when the movement is relaxed or unmotivated. Use 'head for' or 'go to' for everyday, low-urgency movement.
Usage
This phrasal verb has a slightly literary or narrative feel and often implies urgency or a quick response to circumstances. It is more common in British English and in written or spoken storytelling than in everyday casual conversation.
help to create or cause a particular result or quality
Sense 2: What does "make for sth" mean?
Examples
- The combination of spices makes for a surprisingly complex flavour.
- Their different backgrounds made for some fascinating conversations during the trip.
- Too many cooks in the kitchen rarely makes for efficient meal preparation.
How to use it
The most common pattern: an abstract situation or quality acts as the subject, and the result is described with an adjective-noun combination after 'for'.
The mix of strong personalities makes for a lively working environment.
A gerund clause (an -ing phrase acting as a noun) can serve as the subject, describing a process or habit that produces a result.
Having clear goals from the start makes for more productive meetings.
Used to describe a past situation where certain factors contributed to a particular outcome or atmosphere.
The unexpected plot twist made for a genuinely compelling final act.
Used to speculate about what quality or result a hypothetical situation would produce.
A bit more variety in the menu would make for a much better dining experience.
Subjects describing a combination of elements are especially natural with this phrasal verb.
The blend of humour and suspense makes for surprisingly easy viewing.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Make for' has a completely different meaning when the subject is a person moving toward a place (e.g. 'she made for the exit' = she headed toward the exit). In the sense covered here, the subject must be an abstract situation, quality, or combination — never a person going somewhere.
Because 'make for' in this sense describes a general tendency or state rather than an action in progress, continuous forms sound unnatural. Use simple or conditional forms instead.
'Make for' in this sense cannot be used in the passive. It links a contributing factor to a resulting quality, and English does not restructure this kind of relationship into a passive form.
Usage
This phrasal verb is more common in writing and formal speech than in casual conversation, and is especially useful in reviews, opinion pieces, and analytical discussions. It is neutral and works in both British and American English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'make for' always imply urgency, or can it just mean moving towards somewhere?
It almost always implies some degree of purpose or urgency — typically a response to a situation like bad weather, danger, or a time pressure. Using it for relaxed, unmotivated movement sounds slightly odd to a native speaker. If there is no clear impetus, 'head for' or 'go to' is a more natural choice.
Can 'make for' be used in the passive, like 'the harbour was made for'?
No — 'make for' cannot be used in the passive. The destination cannot become the subject of the sentence. Always use an active construction with the person or animal as the subject: 'They made for the harbour.'
Can I use 'make for' with animals, not just people?
Yes — animals are perfectly natural subjects. You might read or hear sentences like 'The fox made for the hedgerow' or 'The dolphins made for open water.' The key is that the subject is animate and moving with some direction or purpose.
Is 'make for' more common in writing or in speech?
It appears in both, but it has a slightly literary or narrative feel that makes it especially common in written storytelling, journalism, and dramatic spoken narration. In everyday casual conversation, 'head for' or 'go to' tend to sound more natural.
Can I use 'have been making for' (present perfect continuous) to talk about ongoing movement?
This form tends to sound awkward with 'make for'. The present continuous ('they are making for the coast') works well for movement already in progress, but the present perfect continuous is best avoided. Use the simple present or past continuous instead, depending on the context.
Does 'make for' always need an object after 'for'? Can I leave it out?
Yes, an object after 'for' is always required with this sense. You cannot end a sentence with just 'makes for' — there must be a noun phrase following it, such as 'makes for interesting reading' or 'makes for an awkward situation'. Dropping the object makes the sentence incomplete.
What kinds of things can be the subject of 'make for'?
The subject is almost always an abstract noun, a noun phrase describing a combination or mix, or a gerund clause. Think of things like 'the lack of communication', 'having diverse opinions', or 'a mix of styles'. Using a person as the subject will make your sentence sound like the movement sense of 'make for', which means something different entirely.
Can I use pronouns like 'it' instead of the full noun phrase after 'for'?
This is rarely done in natural English. The object after 'for' is almost always a full evaluative noun phrase, like 'a great story' or 'uncomfortable viewing'. Replacing it with 'it' sounds awkward and is best avoided.
Is 'make for' mainly used in writing, or can I use it when speaking?
It's neutral enough for both, but it has a slightly considered, analytical tone that makes it especially common in journalism, reviews, and opinion writing. Educated speakers do use it in conversation when they're reflecting or commenting — for example, 'The whole situation makes for an interesting case study.' In very casual chat, people might reach for simpler expressions like 'it creates' or 'it leads to'.
What's the difference between 'make for' and 'lead to'?
'Lead to' suggests a direct cause-and-effect chain, often with a concrete outcome at the end — for example, 'the mistake led to a delay'. 'Make for' is more evaluative: it suggests that something contributes to or tends to produce a certain quality or atmosphere, often something you'd describe with an adjective. You'd say 'the mistake made for an awkward meeting', not 'the mistake led to an awkward meeting' — though both are grammatical, 'make for' emphasises the resulting atmosphere more.
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