Dictionary

make a difference en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To carry out an action, the result of which is a significant change, or an altered circumstance.
   • Near-synonym: move the needle
   • I was hoping that, by volunteering at this refuge, I could make a difference, however small.
2. (idiomatic, intransitive) To be of importance; to matter.
   • I don't think it makes a difference whether you come tonight or not.
   • Increasingly, it does not make a difference—economically, at least—whether the husband or wife is the primary wage earner, or whether either or both of them work. 2013, Debora L. Spar, Wonder Women, page 114:

Forms

Deriveds

difference maker · difference-making

Hypernyms

make all the difference

Synonyms

move the needle

Translations (34)

is muna (be of importance) · hu van értelme (be of importance) · hu változást ér el (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · sv göra skillnad (be of importance) · pl zrobić różnicę (be of importance) · ga difríocht a dhéanamh (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · cmn 做出一點改變 /做出一点改变 (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · pl robić różnicę (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · pl zrobić różnicę (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · fi olla merkitystä (be of importance) · fr changer les choses (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · hu jelentősége van (be of importance) · cy oes gwahaniaeth/ots gan/gyda (be of importance) · fi vaikuttaa (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · is gera mismun (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · sv spela roll (be of importance) · de einen Unterschied machen (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · cmn 要緊 /要紧 (be of importance) · la intersum (be of importance) · pl robić różnicę (be of importance) · hu számít (be of importance) · fi olla väliä (be of importance) · nl een verschil maken (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · es marcar una diferencia (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · ga difríocht a dhéanamh (be of importance) · fi olla merkitystä (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · pt fazer uma diferença (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · cmn 有關係 /有关系 (be of importance) · nl een verschil maken (be of importance) · fr faire bouger les lignes (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · de einen Unterschied machen (be of importance) · bg имам значение (be of importance) · sv göra skillnad (carry out an action the result of which is significant) · cmn 做出點貢獻 /做出点贡献 (carry out an action the result of which is significant)