Meanings
verbmake up the numbers (third-person singular simple present makes up the numbers, present participle making up the numbers, simple past and past participle made up the numbers)
present singular third person makes up the numbers · participle present making up the numbers · participle past made up the numbers · past made up the numbers
- idiomaticTo provide sufficient people to make an event worthwhile.
We need eleven players, but we are only nine. Can you help us make up the numbers?
Translations
Finnish saada luku täyteen
- saada luku täyteento provide sufficient people
French faire de la figuration
- faire de la figurationto provide sufficient people
Spanish hacer bulto
- hacer bultoto provide sufficient people
Cite this entry
APA
make up the numbers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20the%20numbers
MLA
“make up the numbers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20the%20numbers. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make up the numbers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20up%20the%20numbers.
Source: make up the numbers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.