makings

plural of making
as in potential
the basic elements from which something can be developed she has all the makings of an excellent leader, but she needs some experience first

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of makings Saint Laurent and Chloé dominated show chatter, both of which had all the makings of farewell shows. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 The show has all the makings of becoming a classic in the canon of beloved police procedurals. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026 And the line of Jakob Pelletier, Conor Geekie and Gage Goncalves showed the early makings of a quick line that could create havoc in the offensive zone. — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026 Soft, warm and gooey the sweet treat has all the makings of the perfect chocolate chip cookie. — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Clingan has all the makings of a rim monster who could improve his technique guarding on the perimeter enough to make his drop coverage work in the postseason. — Victor Wembanyama, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 When its first trailer dropped, Paul Greengrass‘ film about the Peasants Revolt of 1381 had all the makings of a standard historical epic. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026 The story has all the makings of a viral documentary replete with breathless details, similar to the ones McDonnell’s company produced. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Jacob Rodriguez is pushing to start Rodriguez, the Dolphins’ second-round pick, has all the makings of a rookie starter. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makings
Noun
  • Its long-term commercial potential will depend on whether the technology performs as expected.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • What’s also clear is the military sees the potential of nuclear as the most reliable and steady power source for the future.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That's the stuff that my opponent has voted for at the state capital.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • On the sweet side, several of our editors adore Coop’s dessert sauces, which far exceed the usual grocery store stuff.
    — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • People often complain that cars are becoming heavier, but carbon fiber and other advanced materials give us ways to address that.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a relatively light material able to prevent penetration while also absorbing secondary debris.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Makings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makings. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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