become

become
be|come [ bı`kʌm ] (past tense became [ bı`keım ] ; past participle be|come) verb ***
Become can be used in the following ways:
as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement):
The problem became worse.
He became president in 2001.
as an ordinary transitive verb:
Blue is a color that becomes you.
1. ) linking verb to change and start to be something different, or to start to have a different quality:
The sky became dark.
People were becoming increasingly angry about the delay.
Was it boredom that made Branwell become an alcoholic?
Sɑ̃o Paulo has become the largest city in South America.
a ) to begin to have a particular job or position of authority, or begin to be a member of a group:
In 1603 James became King of England.
It was Mr. Berry who encouraged Christine to become a writer.
The following year Easton became an American citizen.
b ) to begin to be used for a different purpose:
What sort of building was it before it became a museum?
2. ) transitive FORMAL if something becomes you, it is suitable for you or it makes you more attractive:
That red dress really becomes her it goes with her hair.
be`come of phrasal verb transitive
what has/will become of
used for asking what has happened to someone or something, because you have not seen them for a long time, or what will happen to them, because you are worried about them:
If she is sent to prison, what will become of her children?
Whatever became of the painting that used to be in the library?

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Become — Be*come , v. i. [imp. {Became}; p. p. {Become}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Becoming}.] [OE. bicumen, becumen, AS. becuman to come to, to happen; akin to D. bekomen, OHG.a piqu[ e]man, Goth. biquiman to come upon, G. bekommen to get, suit. See {Be }, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Become — Be*come , v. i. [imp. {Became}; p. p. {Become}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Becoming}.] [OE. bicumen, becumen, AS. becuman to come to, to happen; akin to D. bekomen, OHG.a piqu[ e]man, Goth. biquiman to come upon, G. bekommen to get, suit. See {Be }, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Become — Be*come , v. t. To suit or be suitable to; to be congruous with; to befit; to accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or proper for; to cause to appear well; said of persons and things. [1913 Webster] It becomes me so to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • become — (v.) O.E. becuman happen, come about, also meet with, arrive, from P.Gmc. *bikweman become (Cf. Du. bekomen, O.H.G. biqueman obtain, Ger. bekommen, Goth. biquiman). A compound of BE (Cf. be ) and COME (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • become — I (arise) verb befall, come about, come into being, come into existence, commence, ensue, germinate, happen, materialize, occur, proceed, result, succeed II (develop) verb adorn, alter, arise, befit, behoove, benefit, beseem, change into, come to …   Law dictionary

  • become — verb /bI kVm/ past tense became /bi keIm/ past participle become 1 (linking verb) to begin to be something, or to develop in a particular way: He became King at the age of 17. | After the death of her father she became the richest woman in the… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • become — be|come W1S1 [bıˈkʌm] v past tense became [ ˈkeım] past participle become [: Old English; Origin: becuman to come to, become , from cuman to come ] 1.) [linking verb] to begin to be something, or to develop in a particular way ▪ George became… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • become */*/*/ — UK [bɪˈkʌm] / US verb Word forms become : present tense I/you/we/they become he/she/it becomes present participle becoming past tense became UK [bɪˈkeɪm] / US past participle become Summary: Become can be used in the following ways: as a linking… …   English dictionary

  • become — v. 1) (d; intr.) to become of (what became of her?) 2) (formal) (R) it doesn t become you to speak like that 3) (S) she became a teacher; to become depressed * * * [bɪ kʌm] to become depressed (S) she became a teacher (formal) (R) it doesn t… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • become — [[t]bɪkʌ̱m[/t]] ♦ becomes, becoming, became (The form become is used in the present tense and is the past participle.) 1) V LINK If someone or something becomes a particular thing, they start to change and develop into that thing, or start to… …   English dictionary

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