unbecoming

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Freq #28350

Meanings

1

adj
Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.

She wore a rather unbecoming hairstyle.
2

adj
Not in keeping with the expected standards of one's position.

He was accused of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
3

noun
The process by which something unbecomes.

By tracing the turns from U.S. to Japan to China, we can see that becoming American, the classic ethnic American narrative, itself opens to further becomings and unbecomings and rebecomings that address mobility and ethnicization […].
4

adj
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

Thesaurus

Synonyms

4 adj · not in keeping with... indecorous

More improper indecent unfit unsuitable

Opposites

becomingbefittingsuiting

Word family

Related forms unbecominglyunbecomingness

Etymology

From un- + becoming. Compare Middle English unbicomelich (“unbecoming”). Equal to unbecome + -ing

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unbecoming

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
**Frequency rank:** 28350

## Meanings
1. Not flattering, attractive or appropriate.
2. Not in keeping with the expected standards of one's position.
3. The process by which something unbecomes.
4. not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

## Examples
- She wore a rather unbecoming hairstyle.
- He was accused of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
- By tracing the turns from U.S. to Japan to China, we can see that becoming American, the classic ethnic American narrative, itself opens to further becomings and unbecomings and rebecomings that address mobility and ethnicization […].

## Synonyms
- improper
- indecent
- indecorous
- unfit
- unsuitable

## Antonyms
- becoming
- befitting
- suiting

## Related Forms
- unbecomingly
- unbecomingness

## Etymology
From un- + becoming. Compare Middle English unbicomelich (“unbecoming”). Equal to unbecome + -ing

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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