Advertisement

View synonyms for become

become

[bih-kuhm]

verb (used without object)

became, become, becoming. 
  1. to come, change, or grow to be (as specified).

    He became tired.

  2. to come into being.



verb (used with object)

became, become, becoming. 
  1. to be attractive on; befit in appearance; look well on.

    That gown becomes you.

  2. to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.

    conduct that becomes an officer.

become

/ bɪˈkʌm /

verb

  1. (copula) to come to be; develop or grow into

    he became a monster

  2. (foll by of; usually used in a question) to fall to or be the lot (of); happen (to)

    what became of him?

  3. (tr) (of clothes, etc) to enhance the appearance of (someone); suit

    that dress becomes you

  4. (tr) to be appropriate; befit

    it ill becomes you to complain

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of become1

First recorded before 900; Middle English becumen, Old English becuman “to come about, happen”; cognate with Dutch bekomen, German bekommen, Gothic biqiman. See be-, come
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of become1

Old English becuman to happen; related to Old High German biqueman to come to, Gothic biquiman to appear suddenly
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. become of, to happen to; be the fate of.

    What will become of him?

More idioms and phrases containing become

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But fraud and hazards often don’t become apparent until the economy heads south.

Mr. Jin’s ministry has become one of China’s largest, with congregations across the country.

The two met when Newcombe's granddaughter and the victim's daughter became close as little girls.

Read more on BBC

“I think people are becoming increasingly nervous about the fact that Big Tech is looking a little 1999ish,”said Kelly.

Read more on MarketWatch

They pressed Hamas to understand that holding the hostages was becoming a strategic liability, giving Israel a source of legitimacy to keep fighting.

Advertisement

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


becloudbecome of