Showing results for "making"

• present participle of make.

making

American  

[mey-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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-making
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• makings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of making

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

making makings

As for making standard time permanent, that faces opposition too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

However, dry conditions remove moisture from vegetation, making it more able to burn and act as fuel for blazes to take hold and spread.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

I expected my husband to tell me I was making too much of it, but instead he agreed with me.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

The group announced a restructuring of its Japan operations in March, which will result in Tower taking full ownership of its Japan-based factory making 300 millimeter chips.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The hum of conversation around us dulls and washes out while the clattering sound of plates and glasses being stacked behind the bar gets sharper, making my ears ring.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

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

Uwe Boll’s latest film “Citizen Vigilante” had all the makings of a flop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

It’s hardly the makings of a global depression, but it will surely deliver more persistent pain than markets are currently pricing in.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

Odd as it might seem, old Hoarfrost Umber had once believed his youngest son had the makings of a maester.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Related Words

• formulation