be‧come S1 W1 / bɪkʌm / 动词 ( past tense became / -keɪm / , past participle become )

1 [连系动词] to start to have a feeling or quality, or to start to develop into something :

The weather became warmer.

Slowly my eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

Helen became increasingly anxious about her husband’s strange behaviour.

Pollution from cars has become a major problem.

2 [连系动词] to start to have a job or position :

George became king at the age of 54.

When did you first want to become a teacher?

3 [及物动词，不用于进行时] formal to be suitable for someone, or to look attractive on them 同义词 suit :

Blue really becomes her.

Don’t try to be clever – it doesn’t become you.

4 what became of …?/whatever will become of …? used to ask what has happened to someone or something, especially when you have not seen them for a long time, or what will happen to someone that you are worried about :

What became of those Chinese vases that Mum used to have?

Whatever will become of Sam when his wife dies?

THESAURUS

become to start to have a feeling or quality, or to start to develop into something : His parents became worried when he was late home from school. | Violent crime is becoming a major problem. | She became more confident when she joined a drama group.

get to start to have a feeling or quality. Get is less formal than become and is much more commonly used in everyday English : I was getting very tired. | Make sure you’re home before it gets dark.

go to become something – used about things becoming a different colour, or things or people becoming worse in some way : Her hair was going grey. | He went blind. | I think I’m going mad.

turn to become something – used about things becoming a different colour, or the weather or people’s behaviour changing : The water had turned bright green. | The weather is expected to turn cold again. | He suddenly turned nasty.

grow especially written to gradually become something : People were growing impatient. | The rich grew richer.

come undone/loose/apart to become undone, loose, or separated into pieces : The screws had come loose.

change into something to become something completely different : The caterpillar changed into a beautiful butterfly.