Meaning
Makeup has two main meanings:
- (Noun) Cosmetics applied to the face to enhance or change appearance.
- (Noun) The composition or structure of something (e.g., personality, team makeup).
- (Verb – phrasal, “make up”) To compensate, reconcile, or invent something (different from the noun "makeup").
Grammar and Usage
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Makeup (noun, uncountable) → refers to cosmetics: “She put on makeup.”
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Makeup (noun, singular/uncountable) → refers to structure: “The cultural makeup of the city is diverse.”
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Verb form (“make up”) → has different meanings:
- make up (with sb) = reconcile after a conflict.
- make up (time, work) = compensate for something missed.
- make up (a story) = invent or fabricate something.
Common Phrases
- Wear makeup
- Put on makeup
- Remove makeup
- A makeup exam (a test given to make up for a missed one)
- Genetic makeup
- Emotional makeup
Collocations
- Heavy makeup / light makeup
- Makeup kit / makeup bag
- Makeup remover
- Makeup artist
- Cultural makeup / genetic makeup
- Makeup exam / makeup class
Examples
- She wears very little makeup to keep a natural look.
- He forgot to bring his makeup kit to the photo shoot.
- The genetic makeup of the twins is almost identical.
- The teacher scheduled a makeup exam for absent students.
- After their argument, they decided to make up.
- I need to make up the hours I missed at work last week.
- She made up an excuse for being late.
- The city has a diverse cultural makeup with many ethnic groups.
- He went to a makeup artist before the theater performance.
- Always remove your makeup before going to bed.
Synonyms or Related
- Cosmetics (for beauty products)
- Composition / structure (for internal makeup)
- Invent, fabricate (for the verb “make up”)
- Reconcile (for “make up with”)
Antonym
- Natural look (opposite of wearing makeup)
- Destroy / break apart (opposite of "make up" in sense of form or structure)
- Fall out / argue (opposite of "make up with someone")