become

Meaning

1. (copulative) begin to be; turn into.
2. (intransitive) To come about; happen; come into being; arise.
3. (transitive) To be proper for; to beseem.
4. (transitive) Of an adornment, piece of clothing etc.: to look attractive on (someone).
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To arrive, come (to a place).

Synonyms

be

get

grow

happen

turn into

turn

suit

go

change into

do

change

come

make

change to

transform into

come about

transform

befit

develop

come to be

alter

take

come into being

start

fit

match

made up of

arise

beseem

bent

vary

wax

be like

consist

being

shift

red

occur

proceed

say

🗣️

have

composed of

like

set in

exist

broken off

broken

break

bitter

attain

Translations

devenir

werden

diventare

worden

divenire

volverse

hacerse

tornar-se

esdevenir

olmak

γίνομαι

acontecer

devenir

être

stehen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈkʌm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: becomen

Inherited from Old English: becuman

Cognate with Scots: becum

Cognate with Northern Frisian: bekommen

Cognate with Western Frisian: bikomme

Cognate with Dutch: bekomen

Cognate with German: bekommen

Cognate with Swedish: bekomma

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌱𐌹𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽

In summary

A compound of the sources of be- + come.
From Middle English becomen, bicumen, from Old English becuman (“to come (to), approach, arrive, enter, meet with, fall in with; happen, befall; befit”), from Proto-Germanic *bikwemaną (“to come around, come about, come across, come by”), equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + come. Cognate with Scots becum (“to come, arrive, reach a destination”), North Frisian bekommen, bykommen (“to come by, obtain, receive”), West Frisian bikomme (“to come by, obtain, receive”), Dutch bekomen (“to come by, obtain, receive”), German bekommen (“to get, receive, obtain”), Swedish bekomma (“to receive, concern”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (biqiman, “to come upon one, befall”). Sense of "befit, suit" due to influence from Middle English cweme, icweme, see queem. Displaced Old English weorþan.

Sentences

He was the first career employee ever to become director of the agency .

These buildings went on to become the most modern monument of the modern city .

Its main actors and actresses have also become major stars in their own right .

The name has become established in this latter position through international acceptance and use .

I'm going to become bitter and distrustful of people because one person betrayed me .

The unit was later renamed to become the Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade .