become
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to come, change, or grow to be (as specified).
He became tired.
-
to come into being.
verb (used with object)
-
to be attractive on; befit in appearance; look well on.
That gown becomes you.
-
to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.
conduct that becomes an officer.
idioms
verb
-
(copula) to come to be; develop or grow into
he became a monster
-
(foll by of; usually used in a question) to fall to or be the lot (of); happen (to)
what became of him?
-
(tr) (of clothes, etc) to enhance the appearance of (someone); suit
that dress becomes you
-
(tr) to be appropriate; befit
it ill becomes you to complain
Etymology
Origin of become
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
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.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has become a global leader in developing and deploying unmanned systems, and is now sharing that expertise with allied nations facing similar threats.
From Salon
Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia is urged to go to their closest A&E department or call 999.
From BBC
That was the last day before the bill would have quietly become law without his signature, after nearly two weeks on his desk.
Since he became governor, the state’s oil production has plunged 40%, and a quarter of its refining capacity has shut down.
With the dust from the mid-2010s podcast boom finally settling, it was only a matter of time until the medium that has become an integral part of our daily lives got the star treatment.
From Salon
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.
