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

see also:

become of

Synonyms of become

• grow
• get
• go
• come
• turn

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

Political violence has become a twisted form of virtue signaling. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

The Tread+ Vision also includes Sled Mode, meant to allow users to add up to 300 pounds of resistance for strength training as hybrid races like Hyrox become more popular. — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Steppes has supported the education of more than 160 women training to become guides in Sri Lanka, India, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

The field became something else when the ideas of rockism and poptimism, things that only matter to a small clique of people, began to inform everything that happened in music writing over the 21st century. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

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 of
• become unstuck
• destined to become a classic

Rhymes for become

• checksum
• humdrum
• income
• outcome
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum
• come

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