Meaning & use
made to
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
forced or ordered to do something, especially by someone in authority
Grammar: Used after a passive verb: be made to do something. It shows that someone else forces the action.
Patterns
- be made to do something
The children were made to apologize for breaking the window.
He was made to wait outside for over an hour.
Employees are made to attend the safety training every year.
phrasefixed phrase
produced or created according to a particular order, measurement, or purpose
Grammar: Comes after a noun: a suit made to measure, a cake made to order. It describes how something was produced.
Patterns
- made to order
- made to measure
- made to fit
The curtains were made to measure, so they fit the window perfectly.
This furniture is made to order, so it takes six weeks to arrive.
She bought a dress made to her own design.
Common combinations
- made to order
- The bakery makes birthday cakes to order.
- made to measure
- He wears only shirts that are made to measure.
- made to feel
- The new student was made to feel welcome.
- made to believe
- We were made to believe that the tickets were free.
Synonyms and how they differ
- forced to
- Stronger and more direct than 'made to'; it emphasizes that there was no choice at all.
- obliged to
- More formal than 'made to'; it often suggests a duty or rule rather than a person's command.
Word family
Commonly confused: made to or made of? made to or made from?
made to vs made of
Shows the material something consists of: a table made of wood. 'Made to' shows force or purpose, not material.
made to vs made from
Shows the original material after a change: paper made from wood. It does not mean 'forced to'.
Practice
The prisoners ___ clean the floors every morning.
Choose one answer.
'Were made to' fits because it shows someone forced the prisoners to clean. 'Were made' alone is incomplete — it needs 'to' before the action. 'Made to' lacks the passive auxiliary 'were'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “made to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.