- 1linking verb to start to be something + 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. + noun Obama became president in 2009. The bill will become law next year. She's studying to become a teacher. His job has become his whole life.
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- 2[transitive, no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) become somebody (formal) to be suitable for someone Such behavior did not become her.
- 3[transitive, no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) become somebody (formal) to look attractive on someone synonym suit Short hair really becomes you. Idioms
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NAmE//bɪˈkʌm//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they become he / she / it becomes
past simple became
past participle become
-ing form becoming
used to ask what has happened or what will happen to someone or something What became of that student who used to live with you? I dread to think what will become of them if they lose their home.
| become ~ | get ~ | go ~ | turn ~ |
|---|---|---|---|
| involved | used to | wrong | blue |
| clear | better | right | sour |
| accustomed | worse | bad | bad |
| extinct | dark | crazy | cold |
| famous | angry | bald | red |
| ill | sick | 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.
- Turn is used for changes of color and changes in the weather.
Check pronunciation: become