Showing results for "making"

• present participle of make.

making

American  

[may-king] / ˈmeɪ kɪŋ /

noun

• makings
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• self-making
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• makings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of making

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

making makings

Civil rights activists successfully sued cities and counties to draw district lines making it easier for Latinos to vote for Latino candidates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

These include motivational leadership, strategic decision making and team building.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Ultra-processed products are often inexpensive, widely available, and easy to prepare, making them practical choices for households facing financial or time constraints.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

Trivia, festive family feud with the stars, cookie decorating, ornament making, Christmas caroling, Christmas karaoke, silent discos, Zumba and, of course, movie marathons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

My blanket of guilt instantly eases, making me stumble forward.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

A unit that featured edge rushers Myles Garrett and Byron Young and linemen Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske seemingly had all the makings of an elite group.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Serve it with warm corn tortillas, diced onion, cilantro and a flavorful salsa, and you have the makings of an outdoor taco night that largely takes care of itself.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

"We realised we had a drummer and a few different players. Once we started meeting regularly, we realised we had the makings of a band."

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

“We perhaps have the makings of a deal here,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

Connelly said he had the makings of a top picker, a rare compliment from him.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

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Related Words

• formulation

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