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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.

      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.

She said she will soon be making a report to law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Until recently it was only possible to make enquiries by making a formal request to the German Archives.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The outfit burned hot across three albums, making exciting and challenging music before going on indefinite hiatus in August 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Maritime analysts have cautioned during the recent weeks of conflict around the strait that ships' signals in the region have been disrupted and manipulated, making precise tracking difficult.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

In a way, I felt a little bit sorry for her, working this hard to get enough pupils and still not making it.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

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.