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Synonyms

in the making

Idioms  

  1. In the process of developing or growing, being made, as in The editor believed this election signified history in the making. This term is frequently used to describe the course of events, as in the example. [Mid-1600s]

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.

His vision for the building has been 20 years in the making, and he’s faced an enormous amount of pushback, but the structure is here and his enthusiasm for it has not waned.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Raicek often writes her plays in weekslong “volcanic eruptions,” but “The Plunge” was years in the making.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

"This is a huge public health crisis in the making," said Covarrubias, who is also an assistant professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Then on Saturday, Nasa released another photo, with the tagline "history in the making".

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The arrest had been too long in the making to admit yet another failure.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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.