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

Policy changes with respect to alcohol marketing, access and availability can also make a difference in people’s drinking patterns. —Monica Swahn, The Conversation, 5 June 2024

For many in South Bay, any aid can make a difference. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2024

Muster up the confidence to become a leader who can make a difference. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024

Ukraine has struck inside Russia with drones and other non-U.S.-made weapons, but the Americans are by far the largest supplier of the more powerful arms that Ukrainian commanders say could make a difference. —Edward Wong, New York Times, 31 May 2024