become

verb

bi-ˈkəm How to pronounce become (audio)
Definition of becomenext
as in to grow
to eventually have as a state or quality many people became sick with the flu with the arrival of autumn the days become crisper and breezier

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of become Much of rising demand reflects a shift in the way AI systems are consuming AI compute, particularly as the use of agentic AI becomes more widespread, Huang explained. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 The style remained wildly popular into the 1930s and early 1940s, ultimately becoming a wardrobe staple. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 The show became a global phenomenon in the hands of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and producer Andy Wilman. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has become known, in part, for wearing a suit. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for become
Recent Examples of Synonyms for become
  1. grow
  2. get
  3. go
  4. come
  5. turn
Verb
  • The deal amid Utah’s growing push for advanced nuclear power.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Aug. 2026
  • As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Police had initially tried to pull over Shelton's vehicle, a 2006 Honda Civic, near Rodney Parham Road and Mississippi Street, but the vehicle fled through several streets and got away, Little Rock police said in a news release.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The service got its name from the original Mechanical Turk, an 18th century chess-playing robot that was actually controlled by a human chess master.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of get
Verb
  • Even near the end of an August in which the Jays went 17-11, the team posted a near-average wRC+ (101 entering Sunday).
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, the breakeven rate of employment growth, or the number of net new jobs needed each month to keep the unemployment rate steady, actually went slightly negative during the summer and fall of 2025.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • As for Joe Musgrove’s next opportunity, that will come Thursday for Triple-A El Paso for Oklahoma City.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Menon came aboard on July 14, making the trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft along with cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of come
Verb
  • After successful demonstration in ground and airborne trials, the company turned its attention to a GravNav, a system that senses changes in gravity fields.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There’s no better time to start turning your closet over for the season ahead.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of turn

Browse Nearby Words

beclouds
become
becomes
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Cite this Entry

“Become.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/become. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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