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
But, aside from just touting herself as one (which is surely legendary behavior, in and of itself), Cooper has all the typical makings of an icon.
—
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Los Angeles’ upcoming matchup against Chicago has some of the makings for a similar disaster.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
What comfort, when this country feels so alien, to see the map of our collective makings!
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Sausages splashed with mustard and chimichurri sauce are the savory makings of this classic Argentinean mouthful whose name is a mash-up of chorizo (sausage) and pan (bread).
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
How to Watch Cowboys vs Bears This game has the makings to be the most exciting matchup of the day.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
According to other reports cited by Ukrainian electronics expert Serhii Flash the V2U works in teams, with each team member having different color makings on their wings.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
At the same time, Los Angeles’ upcoming matchup against Chicago has some of the makings for a similar disaster.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
What comfort, when this country feels so alien, to see the map of our collective makings!
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Sausages splashed with mustard and chimichurri sauce are the savory makings of this classic Argentinean mouthful whose name is a mash-up of chorizo (sausage) and pan (bread).
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
How to Watch Cowboys vs Bears This game has the makings to be the most exciting matchup of the day.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
According to other reports cited by Ukrainian electronics expert Serhii Flash the V2U works in teams, with each team member having different color makings on their wings.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for makings
Noun
-
But high-resolution Surveying—gathering exhaustive and detailed information about a very narrow topic—is the key to unlocking the learning potential of imitation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Senior executives speak openly about the potential for better customer experience, better products, and fundamentally new business models enabled by AI.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to Stephanie Hunt, founder and creative director of The Flairhunter, the trend is now about intentionally curating meaningful objects into living spaces rather than simply layering more stuff.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Otherwise, the Werk Room stuff is all fun but inconsequential.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This season, younger designers leant into heavy knitwear pieces, embracing ancient crafts by collaborating with local artisans to create sustainable wools, alongside innovating with materials and form.—
Amy O’Brien,
Vogue,
30 Jan. 2026
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The researchers say material shape plays a major role in performance.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Makings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/makings. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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