Become

How to spell become

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce become

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does become mean?

1. verbTo come to be or grow to be in a particular state or condition.
2. verbTo suit or look attractive on someone.

Become in a sentence

• She worked hard to become a qualified accountant.

• That deep green colour really does become her.

• The weather can become unpredictable in late autumn.

• Such rudeness does not become a manager in his position.

Where does become come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This is a native English word that goes straight back to Old English becuman, formed from the prefix be-, an old intensifier, and cuman, the ancestor of the modern verb 'come'. In its earliest use becuman literally meant 'to come to a place' or 'to arrive at', and from there it shifted naturally to the idea of 'coming to be' a certain state or thing. The same be- plus motion-verb pattern lies behind German bekommen, although that relative drifted off to mean 'to get' or 'receive', a reminder that closely related words can wander apart. The separate sense 'to suit' or 'to look attractive on' grew up in the medieval period from the notion of something fitting or befitting a person. Because it is such an old, well-worn Germanic word, the spelling is regular and phonetic, with no silent letters to trap the writer; the only mild stumble is remembering it has a single c and one m.

How the word is built

• be- (Old English intensive prefix)
• come (from cuman: to come)