Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word



Antonyms for make sense


Grammar : Verb
Spell : sens
Phonetic Transcription : sɛns



Definition of make sense

Origin :
  • c.1400, "faculty of perception," also "meaning, import, interpretation" (especially of Holy Scripture), from Old French sens "one of the five senses; meaning; wit, understanding" (12c.) and directly from Latin sensus "perception, feeling, undertaking, meaning," from sentire "perceive, feel, know," probably a figurative use of a literally meaning "to find one's way," or "to go mentally," from PIE root *sent- "to go" (cf. Old High German sinnan "to go, travel, strive after, have in mind, perceive," German Sinn "sense, mind," Old English sið "way, journey," Old Irish set, Welsh hynt "way"). Application to any one of the external or outward senses (touch, sight, hearing, etc.) in English first recorded 1520s.
  • A certain negro tribe has a special word for "see;" but only one general word for "hear," "touch," "smell," and "taste." It matters little through which sense I realize that in the dark I have blundered into a pig-sty. In French "sentir" means to smell, to touch, and to feel, all together. [Erich M. von Hornbostel, "Die Einheit der Sinne" ("The Unity of the Senses"), 1927]
  • Meaning "that which is wise" is from c.1600. Meaning "capacity for perception and appreciation" is from c.1600 (e.g. Sense of humor, attested by 1783, sense of shame, 1640s).
  • As in click : verb fall into place
  • As in cohere : verb agree, conform
Example sentences :
  • I am afraid you will hardly be able to make sense of so torn a piece.
  • Extract from : « The Letters of Robert Burns » by Robert Burns
  • The words all seemed straight enough, if she could only make sense of them.
  • Extract from : « Peak and Prairie » by Anna Fuller
  • I can't say they threw a new light; for nobody can make sense of them.
  • Extract from : « The Innocence of Father Brown » by G. K. Chesterton
  • Shann's wits quickened as he tried to make sense of what he could remember.
  • Extract from : « Storm Over Warlock » by Andre Norton
  • It's a matter of translating them into constants that make sense.
  • Extract from : « PRoblem » by Alan Edward Nourse
  • He'd gone back to sleep while he tried to make sense of things.
  • Extract from : « The Pirates of Ersatz » by Murray Leinster
  • Except, of course, a way to make sense out of the whole thing.
  • Extract from : « Out Like a Light » by Gordon Randall Garrett
  • But even supposing this was true, it all still failed to make sense.
  • Extract from : « Shoe-Bar Stratton » by Joseph Bushnell Ames
  • That was apparent; nor could he make sense out of any combination of letters.
  • Extract from : « The Loyalist » by James Francis Barrett
  • "It don't seem to make sense though, Eliza," objected cook doubtfully.
  • Extract from : « Vice Versa » by F. Anstey

Synonyms for make sense

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019