becoming
Americanadjective
noun
-
any process of change.
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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
Derived 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.
Each nation has slightly different plans on giving the jabs, but in England community pharmacies will be asked to do so, with appointments becoming available from the end of July.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Monetary policy is also becoming less effective in shaping longer-term interest rates.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Over time, the profession risks becoming intellectually narrow and disconnected from the people it is meant to help.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
An increase in melt days indicates that the melt season is becoming longer, which contributes to greater overall ice loss.
From Science Daily • Jun. 12, 2026
In Washington, a day before becoming president of the United States, John Kennedy stepped out of the White House into a cold morning.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
