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
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Recent Examples of makings
The foam filling is wrapped in durable outdoor fabric that has all the makings of polished upholstery.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
After all, this formula has all the makings of a hot-ticket item.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Oklahoma City has the makings of a dynasty.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
All the makings of an even more fabulous Southern woman, if that's possible.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
His status as a self-aware, hyper-online provocateur may not seem to suggest the makings of a bona fide filmmaker, but just wait.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
So, both these games have the makings of providing big viewership numbers on a holiday when most people are home.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Which has the makings of a pretty good Everglades chuckle.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
By all appearances, the title had all the makings of a hit doc, the kind of movie that garners serious buzz by word-of-mouth.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
After all, this formula has all the makings of a hot-ticket item.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Oklahoma City has the makings of a dynasty.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
All the makings of an even more fabulous Southern woman, if that's possible.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
His status as a self-aware, hyper-online provocateur may not seem to suggest the makings of a bona fide filmmaker, but just wait.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
So, both these games have the makings of providing big viewership numbers on a holiday when most people are home.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Which has the makings of a pretty good Everglades chuckle.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
By all appearances, the title had all the makings of a hit doc, the kind of movie that garners serious buzz by word-of-mouth.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makings
Noun
-
Investigators said the device had the potential to damage an aircraft and cause a loss of cabin pressure.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
Steve Hilton has painted California as a state bursting with potential that has lost its way under Democratic leadership in his bid to be the state's first Republican governor in more than 15 years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Kilian, Winn and Erik Miller all boast above-average stuff, according to FanGraphs’ Stuff+ model.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
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So for people who want to go and catch the rodeo, there’s some cool stuff happening there.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Ionic liquids are essentially salts that stay in liquid form even in the vacuum of space, which very few materials can do.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
-
The movie is a straightforward and durable adaptation — Jolie’s electric performance won her an Oscar — but bringing the material to the stage has allowed a more fungible approach to the material, to both capture what happened to Kaysen and express what was flowing through her mind.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Makings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makings. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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