▲make up 表示“弥补，补偿，补上”，主要指增加数量或数额来使其达到应有的规模，含有“补足”“补齐”“凑足”之类的意思。如：
We still need 100 to make up the sum required. 我们还需要100英镑才能达到所需的数目。
We have ten players, so we need one more to make up a team. 我们已有十名运动员，尚需一名才能凑成一个队。
Less than half of the money that students receive is in the form of grants, and loans have made up the difference. 学生领到的钱有不到一半是助学金，差额部分由贷款补足。
▲make up for 表示“弥补；补足”，主要指通过提供一些好的东西来平衡或弥补不好的情况或影响。如：
He said he was sorry and promised to make it up to her. 他表示了歉意并答应补偿她。
An apology won’t make up for the way you’ve behaved. 单纯道歉无法补救你所做过的事。
You’ve done me a real favour — I don’t know how to make it up to you. 你真是帮了我大忙─我不知道如何报答你。
I bought myself a new dress to make up for not getting the job. 我没得到那份工作，于是买了件连衣裙聊以自慰。
Ask for an extra compensation payment to make up for the stress you have been caused. 为补偿你为此承受的压力，你要申请额外的补偿金。
A conservatory would make up for the fact that we were refused planning permission for a roof terrace. 我们建屋顶平台的计划被驳回了，要是能盖一间温室也算一种补偿。
▲若指通过加班加点或额外的付出来“补足”“弥补”所耽误的时间等，两者都可用。如：
They'll have to make up time lost during the strike. 他们不得不加班弥补罢工耽误的时间。
After two years in prison he’s now making up for lost time.  在狱中关了两年之后，他正在弥补失去的时间。
The semi-finalists had to play twice in the day to make up for time lost to bad weather. 为了补回恶劣天气耽误的时间，半决赛选手不得不一日双赛。
▲make up for 后面通常接事物，若要表示弥补某人，后面通常接介词 to。如：
I’ll make up to you somehow. 我会想办法补偿你的。
How can we make up to you for what you've suffered? 我们如何能够补偿你所遭受的损害?