make a difference
idiom
1
: to cause a change : to be important in some way
Cost can make a difference in deciding on a college.
Your help made a big difference.
It may not matter to you, but it makes a world of difference to me.
2
: to do something that is important : to do something that helps people or makes the world a better place
She says that she got into politics because she wanted to make a difference.
Examples of make a difference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some states and counties have seized on strategies that experts say can make a difference.
—
Jessica Gallagher, New York Times, 23 May 2024
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan observed during oral arguments in a case unrelated to TikTok’s ownership that ownership can make a difference in an app.
—Anupam Chander, The Conversation, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for make a difference 
Jessica Gallagher, New York Times, 23 May 2024
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan observed during oral arguments in a case unrelated to TikTok’s ownership that ownership can make a difference in an app.
—Anupam Chander, The Conversation, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for make a difference
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'make a difference.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near make a difference
Cite this Entry
“Make a difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20difference. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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