making

American  

[mey-king] / ˈmeɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that makes.

   The making of a violin requires great skill.

2. structure; constitution; makeup.

3. the means or cause of success or advancement.

   to be the making of someone.

4. Usually makings. capacity or potential.

   He has the makings of a first-rate officer.

5. makings,

   1. material of which something may be made.

      the makings for a tossed salad.

   2. Older Slang. paper and tobacco with which to make a hand-rolled cigarette.

6. something made.

7. the quantity made.

   a making of butter.

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idioms

1. in the making, in the process of being made; developing or evolving; growing.

   Our space scientists see history in the making.

making British  

/ ˈmeɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the act of a person or thing that makes or the process of being made

   2. ( in combination )

      watchmaking

2. to cause the success of

3. in the process of becoming or being made

   a politician in the making

4. something made or the quantity of something made at one time

5. make-up; composition

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Other Word Forms

• self-making
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of making

First recorded before 1150; Middle English; Old English macung; make ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Making sustainable fuels cheaper and more readily available should be "an urgent strategic priority", she added.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

They form a coda to Rana Dasgupta’s thought-provoking but rather chaotic book “After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Making a “CVS run” for toiletries has turned into a “CVS crawl.”

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Making Peters’ commutation even worse is the fact that Vice President J.D.

From Slate • May 21, 2026

Making that meditation sound with her eyes closed.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

Related Words

• formulation