becoming

American  

[bih-kuhm-ing] / bɪˈkʌm ɪŋ /

adjective

1. that suits or gives a pleasing effect or attractive appearance, as to a person or thing.

   a becoming dress; a becoming hairdo.

   Synonyms:

   comely

2. suitable; appropriate; proper.

   a becoming sentiment.

   Synonyms:

   fitting, seemly, congruous, decorous, right, apt, fit, meet

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noun

1. any process of change.

2. Aristotelianism. any change involving realization of potentialities, as a movement from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality.

becoming British  

/ bɪˈkʌmɪŋ /

adjective

1. suitable; appropriate

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noun

1. any process of change

2. (in the philosophy of Aristotle) any change from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality

Other Word Forms

• becomingly adverb
• becomingness noun
• well-becoming adjective

Etymology

Origin of becoming

First recorded in 1555–65; become + -ing ¹, -ing ²

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.

Example Sentences

Jade Hunt and Jamie Hine, a house-hunting couple both in their 20s, say it is becoming increasingly difficult "to progress to that next stage in life" in the city.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Eye-popping prices for the most in-demand movies on the best screens are becoming increasingly common as the cinema industry copies the audience-segmentation playbooks of airlines and hotels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Indeed, bulls will be hoping 1982 repeats itself, because, despite becoming so swiftly overbought in 1982, from the August trough that year the market surged 69% over the next 14 months, according to Emanuel.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Along the way, the YouTube livestream is becoming something closer to a central version of Coachella itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

The weight of all the water above was becoming too great.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown