Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

becoming

 [bih-kuhm-ing]   Origin

be·com·ing

   [bih-kuhm-ing]
adjective
1.
that suits or gives a pleasing effect or attractive appearance, as to a person or thing: a becoming dress; a becoming hairdo.
2.
suitable; appropriate; proper: a becoming sentiment.
noun
3.
any process of change.
4.
Aristotelianism. any change involving realization of potentialities, as a movement from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Becoming is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1555–65; become + -ing1, -ing2

Related forms
be·com·ing·ly, adverb
be·com·ing·ness, noun
well-be·com·ing, adjective

Synonyms
1. comely. 2. fitting, meet, fit, apt, right, decorous, congruous, seemly.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

be·come

   [bih-kuhm] verb, be·came, be·come, be·com·ing.
verb (used without object)
1.
to come, change, or grow to be (as specified): He became tired.
2.
to come into being.
verb (used with object)
3.
to be attractive on; befit in appearance; look well on: That gown becomes you.
4.
to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of: conduct that becomes an officer.
Idiom
5.
become of, to happen to; be the fate of: What will become of him?
Origin:
before 900; Middle English becumen, Old English becuman to come about, happen; cognate with Dutch bekomen, German bekommen, Gothic biqiman. See be-, come
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To becoming
Collins
World English Dictionary
becoming (bɪˈkʌmɪŋ)
 
—adj
1.  suitable; appropriate
 
—n
2.  any process of change
3.  (in the philosophy of Aristotle) any change from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality
 
be'comingly
 
—adv
 
be'comingness
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

become
O.E. becuman "happen, come about," also "meet with, arrive," from P.Gmc. *bikweman "become" (cf. Du. bekomen, Ger. bekommen, Goth. biquiman). A compound of be and come; it drove out O.E. weorðan.
EXPAND

becoming
"looking well," 1560s, from earlier sense of "be fitting" (early 13c.), from become.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT