/ bɪˈkʌm; NAmE / verb ( be·came / bɪˈkeɪm; NAmE /, be·come )
1.
linking verb to start to be sth :
[ v - adj ]
It was becoming more and more difficult to live on his salary.
It soon became apparent that no one was going to come.
She was becoming confused.
[ v - n ]
She became queen in 1952.
The bill will become law next year.
2.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not used in the progressive tenses) ( formal ) to be suitable for sb :
Such behaviour did not become her.
3.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not used in the progressive tenses) ( formal ) to look attractive on sb
SYN suit :
Short hair really becomes you.
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IDIOMS
- what became, has become, will become of sb/sth?
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SYNONYMS
become / get / go / turn
These verbs are used frequently with the following adjectives:
| become ~ | get ~ | go ~ | turn ~ |
| involved | used to | wrong | blue |
| clear | better | right | sour |
| accustomed | worse | bad | bad |
| pregnant | pregnant | white | red |
| extinct | tired | crazy | cold |
| famous | angry | bald |
| ill | dark | blind |
Become is more formal than get . Both describe changes in people's emotional or physical state, or natural or social changes.
Go is usually used for negative changes.
Go and turn are both used for changes of colour.
Turn is also used for changes in the weather.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English becuman come to a place, come (to be or do something) (see be- , come ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bekomen and German bekommen get, receive.