become

verb

be·​come bi-ˈkəm How to pronounce become (audio)
bē-
became bi-ˈkām How to pronounce become (audio)
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
Phrases
become of
: to happen to
wondering whatever became of old friends

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
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.
Over the next ten days or so, Sonny and I hung out and became friends. Cher, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024 Israel is becoming increasingly prone to rejecting U.S. advice and seeks to reduce its reliance on U.S. military aid. Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024 Meanwhile, shopping has also become more seamless, thanks to Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. Anna North, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024 Still, if the Sharks’ template is any indication, the Penguins will likely be challenged to become contenders again — not just this season but for years to come. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for become 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of become was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near become

Cite this Entry

“Become.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/become. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

become

verb
be·​come bi-ˈkəm How to pronounce become (audio)
became -ˈkām How to pronounce become (audio) ; 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

More from Merriam-Webster on become

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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