Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Becoming has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
The act or process by which something becomes.
"The becoming of a master chef took her over ten years of relentless practice and travel."
In plain English: Becoming is the process of changing or growing into something new.
"The becoming of the new CEO was marked by a calm and confident demeanor."
Usage: Use "becoming" only in very formal contexts to describe the state of undergoing change or development. In everyday speech, avoid using it as a noun and instead use phrases like "the process of becoming" or "coming into existence."
present participle of become
"She watched the small seedling slowly becoming a towering oak tree over the years."
In plain English: To become means to change into something different over time.
"The old house is becoming unsafe after years of neglect."
Usage: Use "becoming" only when describing something that is in the process of changing into a new state. Do not use it to mean "appropriate" or "suitable," which is its most common everyday usage as an adjective.
according with custom or propriety
"her becoming modesty"
"comely behavior"
"it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money"
"seemly behavior"
displaying or setting off to best advantage
"a becoming new shade of rose"
"a becoming portrait"
pleasingly suitable; fit; congruous; beautiful
"The soft pink ribbon tied around the cake made it look truly becoming on her birthday."
In plain English: Something that is becoming is starting to look good or seem more attractive.
"The young girl is becoming very confident in front of her classmates."
Usage: Use becoming to describe something that looks attractive or appropriate on a specific person or in a particular situation. Avoid using it to mean simply growing or developing, which is the primary meaning of the word as an adjective.
Derived from Old French becomprender (to comprehend), it originally meant to understand or grasp something fully before evolving into its current sense of being appropriate or suitable. The modern usage stems from the past participle of become, which itself comes from Latin com- and capere.