become

verb

be·​come bi-ˈkəm 

bē-

became bi-ˈkām 

bē-

; become; becoming

intransitive verb

1

a

: to come into existence

b

: to come to be

become sick

They both became teachers.

2

: to undergo change or development

The pain was becoming more intense.

transitive verb

: to be suitable to

seriousness becoming the occasion

especially : to be becoming to

her clothes become her

Phrases

become of

: to happen to

wondering whatever became of old friends

Synonyms

• come
• get
• go
• grow
• run
• turn
• wax

Examples of become in a Sentence

Although I've known him for years, we didn't become close friends until recently.

She won the election, becoming the first woman to be President of the nation.

The book has become quite popular.

We became interested in the property last year.

The crackers had become stale.

It eventually became clear that he had lied.

This kind of behavior hardly becomes a person of your age and position.

Recent Examples on the Web

With a commitment to being solely on the side of the consumer, LIR is poised to become the go-to resource for life insurance reviews, both at the time of purchase to get a second expert opinion and throughout the ownership of the policy in the modern age. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Sports have always been big in Las Vegas, but in recent years spectator sporting events have become a huge draw, and sports tourism here has never been hotter. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

After Stalin’s death in 1953, expressing discomfort with one’s place in the Communist paradise was no longer necessarily fatal, and a new underclass of pariahs—many poets and scientists among them—became a subversive force. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024

The United States has increasingly become a low-trust society, where diminished confidence in the effectiveness and integrity of our institutions is widespread and bipartisan. —Bernard Hudson, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to come to, become, from Old English becuman, from be- + cuman to come

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing become

• be/become one's own man
• become/come unstuck
• destined to become a classic

Kids Definition

become

verb

be·​come bi-ˈkəm 

became -ˈkām  ; become; becoming

1

: to come or grow to be

a tadpole becomes a frog

the days become shorter as summer ends

2

: to look well on : suit

her suit becomes her