become

A1 Topic:Cause, Change & Process

US /bɪˈkʌm/ UK /bɪˈkʌm/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like becalm /ʌ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #521

Meanings

1

verb
To start to be something; to change into a particular state.

It became dark as the sun went down.
2

verb
To start to have a particular job or role.

She studied for years to become a doctor.
3

verb
To happen to someone or something (used with 'of').

Whatever became of your old friend from school?
4

verb
To look attractive on someone.

That blue dress really becomes you.

Verb forms

become, became, become irregular verb

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to start to be something;... get grow turn

4 verb · to look attractive on someone. suit

Word family

Derived forms becomenessbecomerdisbecomemisbecomerebecomeunbecome

Appears in

Phrases (5)

See all

become a father
have a child for the first time; take on the role of a father

Verb + noun
become a mother
have a child for the first time; take on the role of a mother

Verb + noun
become a queen
take on the role or title of queen

Verb + noun
become a teacher
take up the profession of teaching

Verb + noun
become a victim
to enter the state of being harmed or wronged by someone or something

Verb + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

You are what you hate
Matching variant: You become what you hate

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”…

*gʷem- Proto-Indo-European becomen Middle English becuman Old English *bikwemaną Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Cause, Change & Process

External links

# become

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈkʌm/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈkʌm/
**Frequency rank:** 521

## Meanings
1. To start to be something; to change into a particular state.
2. To start to have a particular job or role.
3. To happen to someone or something (used with 'of').
4. To look attractive on someone.

## Examples
- It became dark as the sun went down.
- She studied for years to become a doctor.
- Whatever became of your old friend from school?
- That blue dress really becomes you.

## Derived Forms
- becomeness
- becomer
- disbecome
- misbecome
- rebecome
- unbecome

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gʷem-
- Root: becomen
- Root: becuman
- Root: *bikwemaną

## 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”…

## AI Etymology
Become is 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.

## Topics
- Cause, Change & Process

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