Cool MateMake way vs Yield
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Make way
Top 3,000 (common)
Yield
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Yield
| Make way | Yield | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //meɪk weɪ//🇺🇸 //meɪk weɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/jiːld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/jiːld/"]/ |
| Meaning | Move aside to let someone or something pass. | To give up or let someone else have something. |
| Example | The crowd had to make way for the emergency vehicles. | a high crop yield |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | make way for, make way to, make way in, make way through, make way down | good, high, low, produce, jump, rise, decline |
| Antonyms | - | withhold, retain, deny |
| Common mistakes | Using 'make way' with a direct object incorrectly, saying 'make way the car'., Confusing 'make way' with 'make space' - the meanings are similar but used in different contexts., Omitting the preposition 'for' after 'make way'. | Confused with 'ield' which is not a word., Used in passive voice incorrectly (e.g., 'was yielded' instead of 'was yielded to')., Mixing up with 'yielding' which refers to being flexible or submissive. |
| Usage notes | Use 'make way' in both formal and informal contexts. It's common in situations where someone is being polite or asking others to clear a path. | Commonly used in both formal and neutral contexts. Often refers to giving way in a discussion, negotiation, or traffic situations. It's less appropriate in casual or slang conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Make way vs Yield
What's the difference between Make way and Yield?
Make way: Move aside to let someone or something pass. Yield: To give up or let someone else have something.
Which is more common: Make way and Yield?
Yield is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Make way: The crowd had to make way for the emergency vehicles. Yield: a high crop yield
Can I use Make way and Yield interchangeably?
Not always. Make way and Yield are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.