became

USAGE SUMMARY

"became" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb meaning "to come to be, to change into" and it is most commonly used in the past tense form, "became". Example: After years of hard work, she became a successful entrepreneur.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 1961 he became president of the Union.

The Guardian

Jeff Carter scored in the opening minute of the second and third periods for the Kings, who became the first road team to win in the series.

The New York Times - Sports

He told Channel 4 News: "I've told you the first I became aware of this, and this is already on the public record, was when I received a phone call on Friday afternoon from a journalist making me aware of it".

The Guardian

He renamed months of the year in honour of himself and his mother, and wrote a lifestyle guide, the Ruhnama, which became required reading for high school and university students.

The Guardian

After 9/11 Uzbekistan became a close strategic partner of the US, providing military facilities and transit routes to support US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.

The Guardian

Carr, who served as NSW premier for 10 years, entered the Senate and became foreign minister at the request of former prime minister Julia Gillard in March 2012, when Kevin Rudd returned to the backbench after losing a leadership challenge.

The Guardian

After darkness fell New York became the scene of the most vigorous protests.

The Guardian

Whelan became aware of the gathering of reporters outside his Copacabana hotel and, advised by lawyers, left by an employees' side exit.

The Guardian - Sport

Last November the governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, put a moratorium on all executions and in April Connecticut became the fifth state in as many years to abandon capital punishment altogether.

The Guardian

She was the first winner of American Idol, before it became a defining juggernaut of a decade's pop culture; it's hard to imagine now, but when Clarkson first auditioned, the fate of the show – let alone its contestants – was an unknown.

The Guardian - Music

The cowboy that Lauren has honed throughout his career became a cowgirl – see fringed jackets and geometric south-western patterns, the kind seen on classic ponchos, here on slouchy cardigans and backpacks.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "became" to indicate a clear transition or change in state, ensuring the subject and its new condition are clearly defined in the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "become" instead of "became" when referring to a past event; "become" is the base form, while "became" is the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "became" is as a verb in the simple past tense. It connects a subject to a new state or condition, indicating a transformation or transition. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of "became" used in this way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "became" is a verb in the simple past tense used to describe a change or transition into a new state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it is typically neutral in register, paying attention to tense and context is crucial for accurate and effective communication. Common errors involve misusing the base form, "become", in place of "became" when referring to past actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Turned into

Implies a change or conversion into something different, similar to "became" but often with a sense of alteration.

Evolved into

Suggests a gradual development or transformation over time, adding a nuance of progress to the meaning of "became".

Developed into

Indicates a process of growth or unfolding, providing a sense of progression absent in "became".

Transformed into

Emphasizes a more dramatic or fundamental change than "became" often implying a significant alteration.

Grew to be

Highlights the gradual increase or development, adding a time element not explicit in "became".

Came to be

Focuses on the process of existence or origin, highlighting how something started to exist rather than simply changing.

Was made

Implies an action taken by another person or factor to cause someone to turn into something else.

Shifted to

Describes a change in position, direction, or focus, implying a movement from one state to another.

Transitioned to

Indicates a smooth or gradual change, often used for changes in roles or states.

Emerging as

Suggests a gradual appearance or development, implying something is becoming apparent over time.

FAQs

How do I use "became" in a sentence?

"Became" indicates a change or transition. For example, "He became the president" shows he transitioned into the role of president.

What are some alternatives to "became"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "turned into", "evolved into", or "developed into".

Is it correct to say "become" instead of "became" in the past tense?

No, "become" is the base form of the verb. The correct past tense form is "became". For example, it's correct to say "He became a doctor", not "He become a doctor".

What is the difference between "became" and "was"?

"Became" indicates a change of state, while "was" simply states a condition or identity. For instance, "He became angry" implies a transition to anger, whereas "He was angry" simply describes his state.