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Synonyms

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: make.

      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.

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. 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Toto, a company best-known for toilets, is also on investors’ radars thanks to specialized ceramic materials it produces that are used in advanced chip making.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Similar cases are usually grouped together as many will have similar sentences, making it easier for the court to use the time allocated effectively.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

De-emphasizing China is a long process that stretches from the mine to ore processing to metal and alloy making to magnet production.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

The backdoor Roth means anyone can immediately put money into a Roth regardless of how much they earn — pretty much making a mockery of the modified adjusted gross income limits for Roth contributions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

I enjoy watching it too, but Zara takes it to a whole other level, especially when she thinks the contestants are making the wrong choice.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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.