Meaning & use
making my mark
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Meaning
phraseidiomfigurative
Becoming successful or well-known in a particular field or activity.
Grammar: The possessive pronoun changes to match the subject: 'making your mark', 'making his mark', 'making their mark'.
Patterns
- making my mark in something
- making my mark as something
After years of hard work, she is finally making her mark in the fashion industry.
He moved to the city hoping to make his mark as a musician.
The young athlete is making her mark in the world of tennis.
Common combinations
- making a mark in
- The company is making a mark in the renewable energy sector.
- making your mark on
- She is making her mark on the art world with her unique style.
- make one's mark
- He wants to make his mark before he retires.
Synonyms and how they differ
- making a name for oneself
- Similar meaning but focuses more on becoming famous; 'making your mark' often implies leaving a lasting impression.
- succeeding
- More general; 'making your mark' specifically means becoming noticed or influential.
Word family
- mark noun
- A visible sign or impression; in this idiom, it means a lasting effect.
Commonly confused: making my mark or making a mark?
making my mark vs making a mark
This is a variant without the possessive; both are correct, but 'making my mark' is more personal.
Practice
Complete the sentence: She is making ___ mark in the music industry.
Choose one answer.
The possessive pronoun must match the subject 'she', so 'her' is correct. 'My' would not match, and 'a' or 'the' would change the idiom to a literal meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “making my mark”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.