make much

English

Verb

make much (third-person singular simple present makes much, present participle making much, simple past and past participle made much)

1. (usually with "of") To emphasize, put much value on.
   • 2004, Markman Ellis, The Politics of Sensibility, page 74:

     Many readers too, have made much of the signifying force of the connection between Sterne and the starling.

   • 2020 May 20, John Crosse, “Soon to be gone... but never forgotten”, in Rail, page 63:

     Northern made much of the scrapping of the first of the Pacers (142005), and to date 35 of its Class 142s have been scrapped, with a further 11 off-lease at Gascoigne Wood.

2. (usually with "of") To give fond attention to; to cosset.
   • 2012, Albert Payson Terhune, Bruce, page 119:

     Usually, on such visits, the colonel made much of the dog. Today he merely glanced up abstractedly from his writing, at sight of Bruce's silken head at his side.

Synonyms

• (emphasize): betone, stress, underscore
• (give fond attention to): coddle, pamper, posset; see also Thesaurus:pamper