make up for

• to make up for smth

• to atone for smth

• to repair one's fault

• to repair one's wrong

• to make amends for smth

compensate for a loss or mistake

I have to work hard in order to make up for the loss from the poor sales.

(from Idioms in Speech)

to give or do in place of; compensate for; be a compensation for

But poor fellow, he has to go so slow in the van, he likes to make up for it on his Indian motor-cycle. (A. Cronin)

I had a sort of eagerness and lack of disillusion which more than made up for the coat and hat and the ensemble like a uniform, (J. Braine)

"I'd hoped to finish up by the fall. Your plans for the summer have knocked my plans into a cocked hat." Haviland flushed, but he didn't raise his voice, "I'm sorry," he said. "I tried to make up for that with the fellowship." (M. Wilson)

And he was now going to give him an extra heavy dose of attention to make up for his approaching departure. (M. Wilson)