- present participle of become.
becoming
Americanadjective
noun
-
any process of change.
-
Aristotelianism. any change involving realization of potentialities, as a movement from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality.
adjective
noun
-
any process of change
-
(in the philosophy of Aristotle) any change from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of becoming
Explanation
Something that's becoming is charming, or looks good. It's a compliment — or a sales tactic — if a salesperson gushes, "That dress is so becoming on you!" Clothing that's becoming is well-suited to the person wearing it, flattering him and making him look great. You can also use the adjective to mean "appropriate," as when a stern kindergarten teacher scolds, "That behavior is not becoming, boys." In the 13th century, something becoming was "fitting," and by the 1560s it also meant "looking good." The opposite of becoming is unbecoming.
Vocabulary lists containing becoming
The Catcher in the Rye
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Murder on the Orient Express
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Traders are also reassessing the broader macro environment, which is becoming more constructive to bitcoin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Consumers aren’t broke, but they are being more selective about what they buy, and that’s becoming more of a problem for major retailers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Like I measure the success of my investment based on whether we win championships. … And now it’s becoming apparent that these are really, really good financial investments.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Burnham spent almost a decade as Greater Manchester Mayor and since becoming prime minister has repeatedly said he wants to devolve power away from central government.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
So pinched and prim like she was, I could tell she was on a fast road to becoming a dowdy old matron.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
