becoming

UK: /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/ US: /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/ ,(bi kum′ing)

From the verb become: (⇒ conjugate)

becoming is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•com•ing /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/   adj. 

1. giving a pleasing effect or attractive appearance:
   wore a becoming hairdo.
2. suitable;
   proper:
   [usually: be + ~] Such language during that speech was not becoming.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•com•ing  (bi kum′ing), adj. 

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.

n. 

3. any process of change.
4. Philosophy [Aristotelianism.] any change involving realization of potentialities, as a movement from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality.

• become + -ing¹, -ing² 1555–65

be•com′ing•ly, adv. 
be•com′ing•ness, n. 
Synonyms

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

becoming / bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/ adjective

1. suitable; appropriate

beˈcomingly adverb

beˈcomingness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•come /bɪˈkʌm/   v., -came, -come, -com•ing. 

1. [~ + adjective] to come, change, or grow to be (as specified):
   I became tired and went to bed.
2. to come into being:
   [~ + noun] She became a ballerina.
3. to be attractive on;
   suit:
   [~ + object* not: be + ~-ing] That dress becomes you.
4. to be suitable to the dignity or rank:
   [~ + object* not: be + ~-ing] conduct that becomes an officer.
See becoming.

Idioms

5. Idioms become of, [~ + object* used in questions] to happen to (someone or something);
   to be the fate of (someone or something):
   Whatever became of him?

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•come  (bi kum′), v., be•came, be•come, be•com•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to come, change, or grow to be (as specified):
   He became tired.
2. to come into being.

v.t. 

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.
5. Idioms become of, to happen to;
   be the fate of:
   What will become of him?

• bef. 900; Middle English becumen, Old English becuman to come about, happen; cognate with Dutch bekomen, German bekommen, Gothic biqiman. See be-, come

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

become / bɪˈkʌm/ verb ( -comes, -coming, -came, -come)(mainly intr)

1. (copula) to come to be; develop or grow into: he became a monster
2. (followed by of; usually used in a question) to fall to or be the lot (of); happen (to): what became of him?
3. (transitive) (of clothes, etc) to enhance the appearance of (someone); suit: that dress becomes you
4. (transitive) to be appropriate; befit: it ill becomes you to complain

Etymology: Old English becuman to happen; related to Old High German biqueman to come to, Gothic biquiman to appear suddenly