make a difference
meɪk uh DIF-ur-ens
/meɪk ə ˈdɪfərəns/
To have a significant effect on a person or situation; to cause a change.
Implies the creation of a new, usually better, state of affairs.
The story behind the word. 'Difference' comes from the Latin 'dis-' (apart) and 'ferre' (to carry). When you make a difference, you 'create' a situation where the new reality is 'carried apart' from the old one.
Word relationships
- matter: To be important or significant.
- impact: To have a strong effect on someone or something.
- be inconsequential: To have no effect or importance.
- remain the same: To not change at all.
Commonly confused with
- do good: 'Do good' is a general moral act; 'make a difference' focuses on the specific change caused.
Word family
- different (adjective): Not the same as another or each other.
Collocations
- make a huge difference
- make a real difference
- make a positive difference
Idioms & expressions
- change the world
Example sentences
- "Every small donation can make a difference in the lives of these children." Social Activism
- "'I want to make a difference in the world.'" Personal Motivation
Memory hook
You 'make' the world 'different'. Make it different to make a difference.
When not to use
Do not use 'do a difference'.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'make a difference' is often used in political campaigns to inspire voters.
- In mathematics, the 'difference' is the result of subtraction.
Related words
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