making

noun
mak·​ing | \ ˈmā-kiŋ How to pronounce making (audio) \

Definition of making

1 : the act or process of forming, causing, doing, or coming into being spots problems in the making
2 : a process or means of advancement or success
3 : something made especially : a quantity produced at one time : batch
4a : potentiality often used in plural had the makings of a great artist
b makings\ ˈmā-​kənz How to pronounce makings (audio) , ˈmā-​kiŋz\ plural : the material from which something is to be made especially \ usually  ˈmā-​kənz \ : paper and tobacco for rolling cigarettes by hand

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of making in a Sentence

methods used in the making of wine she has all the makings of an excellent leader, but she needs some experience first

Recent Examples on the Web

Even as Hurricane Dorian roared up the East Coast on Thursday and hammered the Carolinas with dangerous wind and storm surges, President Trump refused to retreat from a related storm of his own making. Los Angeles Times, "Trump tries to reroute hurricane to fit his reality, continuing a pattern," 5 Sep. 2019 This has been an enshrinement six decades in the making. Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "Al Attles’ Hall of Fame journey: Stories from his six decades with Warriors," 5 Sep. 2019 The Prime Minister ended his second day of parliamentary misery in a deeply weakened position -- largely of his own making. Rob Picheta, Ivana Kottasová And Nina Dos Santos, CNN, "Boris Johnson fails in high stakes attempt to call snap general election," 4 Sep. 2019 Depp and Chalamet are certainly the next wave of style icons in the making. Chrissy Rutherford, Harper's BAZAAR, "Lily Rose Depp and Timothee Chalamet Are the New Queen and King of the Red Carpet," 3 Sep. 2019 The announcement is almost three years in the making. Louis Cheslaw, Condé Nast Traveler, "Prince Harry's New Initiative Will Keep the Travel Industry Honest on Climate," 3 Sep. 2019 Mutations in a number of genes (the latest study, 10 years in the making, examines a second gene after the preliminary discovery). Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "The (Genetic) Science of Sleep: Brainstorm Health," 30 Aug. 2019 The luckless Mr Conte will still have to go to parliament to explain a crisis that is not of his making. The Economist, "Italy’s would-be strongman suddenly looks more vulnerable," 15 Aug. 2019 Sandys has overlaid the surfaces with colorful Matisse-like canvases and sculptures of her own making. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, "Winston Churchill’s Granddaughter’s MTV Connection," 12 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'making.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of making

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for making

Middle English, from Old English macung, from macian to make

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for making

making

noun

English Language Learners Definition of making

: the action or process of producing or making something
: something that causes someone to become better or more successful
US : the people or things that are needed for making something

Keep scrolling for more