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

One major flashpoint became a provision authored by House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner, R-Ohio, that critics argue would dramatically expand surveillance authorities. —USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024

Since then, April 20 has become an annual celebration that comes in many forms: a festival, a party or a session with the homies in an empty parking lot. —Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024

The newspaper’s reports were cited by local officials who argued that Greenstone’s water transfer to Queen Creek would be a harbinger of many more such deals, as water becomes increasingly scarce across the West. —Maanvi Singh, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024

This event changed both artists’ and artworks’ trajectories: NFTs became a thing from then on, attracting the attention and endorsement of artists, creators, and even celebrities who launched their own tokens. —William Mullane, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Apr. 2024

In between the two aforementioned albums, Swift topped the Billboard 200 with both Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version), the latter of which became the star’s record-extending sixth album to debut with over one million pure sales in its first week. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024

In his expert report, Craig said he was inspired to become a fighter pilot by watching the original movie on VHS. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

Godzilla x Kong is widely expected to become the top-grossing film in the franchise domestically (the current record-holder is Godzilla with $200.6 million). —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

Cosgrave had been replaced by former Wikimedia Foundation chief Katherine Maher, who subsequently oversaw November’s Web Summit in Lisbon, but Maher soon left to become NPR’s new CEO. —David Meyer, Fortune, 8 Apr. 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
• become of
• 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