Made of, Made with, Made From, or Made Out of?
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  • Writer's pictureBri

Made of, Made with, Made From, or Made Out of?

Updated: Mar 11, 2023

If you are learning English, you may have noticed that there are different ways to describe how something is made. In particular, you may have heard phrases like "made of," "made with," "made from," and "made out of," and wondered what the differences between them are. In this blog post, we will explore the different ways to use these phrases and when to use them.


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Made of

"Made of" is used to describe the material that something is composed of. For example, you might say "This chair is made of wood" or "The necklace is made of gold." Here, the focus is on the substance or material that the item is primarily composed of.


Made with

"Made with" is used to describe the tools or ingredients that were used to make something. For example, you might say "This cake was made with eggs, flour, and sugar" or "This painting was made with oil paints." Here, the focus is on the tools or ingredients that were used to create the item.



Made from

"Made from" is similar to "made of," but it implies that the material has undergone a significant transformation or process. For example, you might say "This paper is made from recycled materials" or "This vase is made from clay." In both cases, the material has undergone a process of transformation to become the final product.


Made out of

"Made out of" is similar to "made of," but it can imply that the material is unusual or unexpected. For example, you might say "This sculpture is made out of recycled car parts" or "This dress is made out of recycled plastic bottles." In both cases, the material used is not what you would typically expect for the final product.


It's worth noting that these phrases can be used interchangeably in some cases, depending on the context. For example, you might say "This sculpture is made of recycled car parts" or "This cake was made from flour, sugar, and eggs." However, it's important to use the correct phrase to ensure clear communication and avoid confusion.



In conclusion, understanding the differences between "made of," "made with," "made from," and "made out of" can help you describe how something is made more accurately and clearly. Remember, "made of" focuses on the material used, "made with" focuses on the tools or ingredients used, "made from" implies a transformation or process, and "made out of" implies an unusual or unexpected material.


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