become
bih-KUHM
Become (verb) means to start being something different; to change into. Example: “The quiet little town has become a popular place for tourists.”
verb
1
To start being something different; to change into.
"The quiet little town has become a popular place for tourists."
"After years of training, she became a qualified surgeon."
"The weather quickly became colder as autumn set in."
2
To suit or look attractive on someone (formal/literary).
"That shade of blue really becomes her."
"That green scarf becomes you far better than the grey one."
"A short haircut becomes him, and it makes him look younger."
How to use become
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo change into, or turn into, something or someone; less commonly, to suit or flatter.
Common mistake
Remember "become" is followed directly by a noun or adjective ("become a doctor," "become angry") — not by "to" ("become to a doctor" is wrong).
Common pairings
become aware
become involved
what became of
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like become.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- becomes
- Past tense
- became, becomen, becomed
- Archaic forms
- becomest, becamest, becamedst, becometh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The quiet little town has _____ a popular place for tourists.
Etymology
From Old English becuman, "to happen, arrive, come to be," built from "be-" (around) and "come." The sense of "suit, look good on" developed separately, influenced by a similar-sounding Middle English word meaning "to please."
Related words
Rhymes for become
See all rhymes for become →Frequently asked questions
What does “become” mean?
The word “become” means to start being something different; to change into. In plain terms, to change into, or turn into, something or someone; less commonly, to suit or flatter.
How do you pronounce “become”?
“Become” is pronounced bih-KUHM (/bɪˈkʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “become” in a sentence?
Here is “become” used in a sentence: “That shade of blue really becomes her.”
What part of speech is “become”?
“Become” is a verb.
Where does the word “become” come from?
The word “become” comes from Old English.
Is “become” a common word?
“Become” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “become” have?
“Become” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to start being something different; to change into.
What is the past tense of become?
The past tense of become is became: 'she became a doctor.' The past participle, used with has or have, is become: 'they have become close friends.' Notice that become does not add -ed; it is an irregular verb, and its past participle looks the same as the base form.
What is the difference between become and get?
Both can describe a change of state, and they often overlap: 'it became dark' and 'it got dark' mean much the same. Become is slightly more formal and works with nouns and adjectives, while get is more casual and usually pairs with adjectives. You become a teacher, but you would not 'get a teacher' in that sense.
What is the difference between become and turn into?
Both describe changing from one thing to another. Become is broader and often gradual: she became confident. Turn into usually suggests a fuller or more dramatic change into something clearly different: the caterpillar turned into a butterfly. Turn into tends to stress the end result, while become can describe change of any size.
What is an example of become?
You might say 'he became a teacher after university,' showing a change in role, or 'the sky became dark,' showing a change in state. Become links a subject to what it changes into, whether a job, a quality, or a condition, as in 'they became friends' or 'it is becoming colder.'
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include become:
