WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
make-do
(māk′do̅o̅′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -dos, adj.
n.
adj.
n.
- something that serves as a substitute, esp. of an inferior or expedient nature:We had to get along with make-dos during the war.
adj.
- used as a substitute;
makeshift:make-do curtains.
- 1890–95
'make-do' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
affect
- counterfeit
- deficient
- do
- efficient
- faction
- factitious
- factor
- factotum
- feat
- forfeit
- give
- make
- makeshift
- number one
- number two
- office
- officinal
- olfactory
- orifice
- prefect
- proficient
- profit
- refect
- sacrifice
- satisfaction
- satisfy
- stretch
- stupefy
- suffice
- sufficient
- take
- tubifex
- verb