BECAME Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

became

verb

past tense of become

as in grew

to eventually have as a state or quality many people became sick with the flu with the arrival of autumn the days become crisper and breezier

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of became Why Airbnb’s founder became its chief recruiter Chesky thinks he was born a good founder. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Her sophomore album, 1989’s Eyes on This, became the first album by a female solo rapper to appear on the Billboard 200. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Each became a cornerstone of Eighties country music, but Anderson didn’t stop there. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 Andries’ articles and reviews helped elevate Steppenwolf’s profile considerably in the years before the theater company relocated to Chicago in 1980 and eventually became world-renowned, Delacoma said. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Internationally, the song became his first top 10 on the Billboard Global Excl. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026 Duguay became a star during the six seasons of his initial stint in New York. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 His earlier work included mortgage underwriting software and technology development inside Sun West, before Celligence became the company through which his broader financial AI work has been developed. — Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 The idea became a contemporary streetscape built around encounters, pauses and departures. — Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for became

Verb

On an adjusted basis, operating income grew 10%, beating analysts' expectations.

— Justina Lee,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Yet amid all the decadent breakfasts and sparkling balls, one socialite found herself on a deeper mission as the days grew longer and a warm summer set in.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of grew

Verb

To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
It's got a set of pedals, as well as a twist-throttle on the right bar, controlling a 750-W nominal, 1,310-W peak, 85-Nm (63-lb-ft) electric motor between the rear wheels.

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of got

Verb

The company generated $70 billion in free cash flow in the first half of this year, while AMD totaled just over $4 billion and Google parent Alphabet went cash flow negative in the second quarter to fund its buildout.

— Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Napoli went ahead again in the 83rd minute thanks to a second from McTominay — who also scored twice in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of went

Verb

Edwards and Ball combined for 17 points during that spurt, while the Heat missed six of nine shots and turned the ball over on four possessions.

— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
In that incident, surveillance footage — first reported by the Daily News — showed the fare-checkers pushing Brooklyn school aide Kyle Taylor up against a bus stop shelter following a fare dispute that had turned physical.

— Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of turned

Browse Nearby Words

becalms

became

because

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Became.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/became. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of became

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes