become

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to enter or assume a certain state or condition

   I've become numb to the feeling.

2. 2
   verb

   to come into existence

   What becomes has duration.

3. 3
   verb

   to undergo a change or development

   I became a dentist.

4. 4
   verb

   to enhance the appearance of

   Mourning doesn't become you at all.

5. 5
   verb

   begin to be; turn into (often with permanent states).

   Near-synonyms: get, turn, go, come, fall, grow, wax

6. 6
   verb

   To come about; happen; come into being; arise.

   What became of him after he was let go?

7. 7
   verb

   To be appropriate for.

   It doesn’t become a true gentleman to speak in such a manner.

8. 8
   verb

   Of an adornment, piece of clothing etc.: to look attractive on (someone).

   That dress really becomes you.

Etymology

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”…