make a difference

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

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

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To carry out an action, the result of which is a significant change, or an altered circumstance.

   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.

   • 1919, Scott Nearing, The Debs Decision:

     I refuse to hate a human being because he happens to be born in some other country. Why should I? To me it does not make any difference where he was born or what the color of his skin may be.

Derived terms

• difference maker
• difference-making

Translations

carry out an action the result of which is significant

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 做出一點改變／做出一点改变, 做出一点改变 (zuòchū yīdiǎn gǎibiàn), (make some contribution) 做出點貢獻／做出点贡献 (zuòchū diǎn gòngxiàn), 做出点贡献 (zuòchū diǎn gòngxiàn)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: olla merkitystä, vaikuttaa (fi)
• Portuguese: fazer uma diferença
• Spanish: marcar una diferencia

be of importance

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 要緊／要紧 (zh) (yàojǐn), 要紧 (zh) (yàojǐn), 有關係／有关系 (zh) (yǒu guānxi), 有关系 (zh) (yǒu guānxi)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: olla väliä, olla merkitystä
• Latin: intersum (la)