What's the Difference Between 'Make Up' and 'Makeup'?

In this blog post we look at when to use make up and when to use makeup.

'Make Up' or 'Makeup'?

"Makeup" and "make up" are two words that are often confused, but they have very different meanings and uses.

"Makeup" is a noun that refers to the products used to enhance or alter a person's appearance, such as cosmetics, eyeliner, lipstick, etc.

For example, "She spends an hour every morning doing her makeup." In this context, "makeup" refers to the items she uses to enhance her appearance.

On the other hand, "make up" is a verb phrase that refers to the action of repairing a relationship or restoring something to its original state.

For example, "They had a fight, but they made up and are now best friends again." In this context, "make up" refers to the action of repairing their relationship.

In conclusion, "makeup" and "make up" are two terms which sound similar but have different meanings and uses.

"Makeup" is a noun that refers to the products used to enhance or alter a person's appearance, while "make up" is a verb phrase that refers to the action of repairing a relationship or restoring something to its original state.

Understanding the difference between these two expressions is important for effective communication and to avoid misunderstandings.

Here are some example sentences using both "makeup" and "make up":

"Makeup" as a noun:

  1. She spent hours in front of the mirror perfecting her makeup.

  2. He bought her a complete set of makeup for her birthday.

  3. The actress's stunning transformation was due to her skillful use of makeup.

"Make up" as a verb:

  1. He made up for his mistakes with his sincere apology.

  2. They always make up after a long and bitter argument.

  3. He promised to make up the missed assignments before the next class.


Make Up or Makeup
Make Up or Makeup