became: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (used across all registers from informal to formal)
Quick answer
What does “became” mean?
past tense of 'become'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
past tense of 'become'; indicates a change of state, condition, or identity that occurred in the past.
Can imply transformation, development, or the assumption of a new role or characteristic over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “became” in a Sentence
NP became ADJNP became NPNP became of NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “became” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The weather became frightfully cold.
- She became quite cross when she heard the news.
- He became the manager after years of service.
American English
- The weather became really cold.
- She became pretty angry when she heard the news.
- He became the manager after years on the job.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe career progression or market changes (e.g., 'He became the CEO').
Academic
Used to describe processes, historical changes, or developments in theory (e.g., 'The hypothesis became widely accepted').
Everyday
Used for common personal changes and events (e.g., 'It became dark outside').
Technical
Used in scientific contexts to denote state changes (e.g., 'The liquid became a gas').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “became”
- Using 'become' instead of 'became' in simple past narratives.
- Using 'became' with 'to' + verb (incorrect: 'He became to like it'; correct: 'He began to like it' or 'He came to like it').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'became' is used for any subject (people, things, situations, ideas) that undergoes a change (e.g., 'The leaf became red', 'The situation became dangerous').
'Became' is more formal and emphasizes the process or result of change. 'Got' is more informal and often used for temporary states or feelings (e.g., 'got angry' vs. 'became enraged'). 'Became' is preferred with professions and permanent changes.
No, 'became' is specifically the simple past tense form. The base form is 'become' (present/infinitive), and the past participle is also 'become' (used in perfect tenses: has/have/had become).
It can be followed by both. It links the subject to a subject complement, which can be an adjective (She became famous) or a noun (He became a king).
past tense of 'become'.
Became is usually neutral (used across all registers from informal to formal) in register.
Became: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈkeɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈkeɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “became of (What became of him?)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BE + CAME. Something that WAS (be) has now ARRIVED (came) in a new form.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS MOTION (from one state to another).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'became' correctly?