make up for something phrasal verb (
see also make)
1. to make a bad situation better, or replace something that has been lost
Synonym : compensate:
The team will be anxious to make up for a disappointing start to the season. I don’t eat breakfast but I make up for it at lunch. The good days more than make up for the bad ones.2. to have so much of one quality that it is not important that you do not have much of another one
make up for something in/with What Jay lacked in experience, he made up for in enthusiasm. Caroline doesn’t have a natural talent for music but she makes up for it with hard work.3. to do something to show that you are sorry for doing something that upset or annoyed someone:
I’m sorry I was late. To make up for it, let me treat you to a meal.4. make up for lost time a) to work more quickly, or at times when you do not usually work, because something has prevented you from doing the work before:
We rehearsed all day Saturday, to make up for lost time. b) to do a lot of something in an eager way because you have not had a chance to do it before:
Palin didn’t travel much as a young man but he’s certainly made up for lost time now. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲