Make sense of something
verb phrase
To find an understandable or reasonable explanation for something.
I'm trying to make sense of these strange symptoms.
Often appears as...
- make sense of things
- make sense of data
verb phrase
To make something clear or easy to understand.
The teacher helped us make sense of a difficult problem.
Often appears as...
- make sense of theory
- make sense of a situation
verb phrase
To find an understandable or reasonable explanation for something.
I'm trying to make sense of these strange symptoms.
Often appears as...
- make sense of things
- make sense of data
verb phrase
To make something clear or easy to understand.
The teacher helped us make sense of a difficult problem.
Often appears as...
- make sense of theory
- make sense of a situation
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Context Clues
Look around the phrase for hints that explain or give meaning to the confusing part.
The ancient text was hard to read, but I made sense of the message using context clues.
Pro Tip 2/3Stress Uncertainty
Use 'make sense of' when you're still figuring something out, not when you've already understood it.
Despite the unclear instructions, I'm trying to make sense of how to assemble this desk.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
Sometimes 'make sense of' can imply an emotional struggle to understand something upsetting.
After the tragedy, the community struggled to make sense of the events.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Clues
Look around the phrase for hints that explain or give meaning to the confusing part.
The ancient text was hard to read, but I made sense of the message using context clues.
Pro Tip 2/3Stress Uncertainty
Use 'make sense of' when you're still figuring something out, not when you've already understood it.
Despite the unclear instructions, I'm trying to make sense of how to assemble this desk.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
Sometimes 'make sense of' can imply an emotional struggle to understand something upsetting.
After the tragedy, the community struggled to make sense of the events.
Pro Tip 1/3Context Clues
Look around the phrase for hints that explain or give meaning to the confusing part.
The ancient text was hard to read, but I made sense of the message using context clues.
Pro Tip 2/3Stress Uncertainty
Use 'make sense of' when you're still figuring something out, not when you've already understood it.
Despite the unclear instructions, I'm trying to make sense of how to assemble this desk.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
Sometimes 'make sense of' can imply an emotional struggle to understand something upsetting.
After the tragedy, the community struggled to make sense of the events.
Never forget "Make sense of something"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension