Standard Lemma guide

becomingness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being becoming (pleasingly suitable).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • 1924, O. Douglas (pseudonym of Anna Masterton Buchan), Pink Sugar, London: Hodder & Stoughton, Chapter 22, The becomingness of Kirsty’s clothes did nothing to soften Rebecca’s feelings towards her.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being becoming

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: unbecomingness

Broader terms: decorum, decorousness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English becoming Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English becomingness From becoming (“suitable, fit”) + -ness.