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Reference : Phrasal Verbs : M : make out (2)

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make out (2) American English Informal

Meaning: to hug, kiss and touch in a sexual way

For example:

  • make out When we were in high school, we'd take our girlfriends to the movies and make out in the back row.

  • make out Jill and her friends were talking about how nervous and excited they felt the first time they made out with boys.

Note: "Make out" is mostly used by young people to mean sexual behaviour such as hugging, kissing, and sexual touching, but it doesn't usually mean full sexual intercourse.

Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz:

Young people often make out when they
  1. go to church
  2. go to job interviews
  3. go to parties

Grammar explanation: separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

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