became sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became sick" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden change in someone's health or physical condition. Example: "After eating the raw fish, Tim suddenly became sick and had to go to the doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Zylka's mother became sick.

The New Yorker

Bibber became sick.

The New Yorker

And people became sick.

Independent

Sofia became sick with heartache.

The New Yorker

Several zoo employees became sick.

The New York Times

By late March, Deepak Jain became sick.

The New York Times

I became sick and left".

The Guardian

We woke up when Theo became sick.

The New York Times

The other baby became sick, but survived.

The New York Times

She became sick and ran a fever.

The New York Times

None of these people became sick.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "became sick" to describe a transition into a state of illness, ensuring the context clearly indicates the cause or circumstances surrounding the health decline.

Common error

While "became sick" is widely understood, consider more formal alternatives like "fell ill" or "contracted a disease" in professional or academic writing to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became sick" functions as a verb phrase indicating the process of transitioning into a state of illness. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage. It describes the change in someone's health status, moving from a state of wellness to one of sickness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "became sick" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the onset of illness, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its frequency across diverse sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal documents, underscores its broad applicability. While more formal alternatives such as "fell ill" exist, "became sick" remains a versatile choice for conveying a change in health status. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its use in various narrative contexts, from reporting on disease outbreaks to personal accounts of illness. Understanding its function and register allows for effective communication about health-related matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell ill

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the onset of illness.

took ill

Similar to "fell ill", but slightly less formal.

became unwell

A general term indicating a decline in health.

started to feel sick

Focuses on the subjective feeling of illness.

was stricken with

Suggests a sudden and often severe illness.

contracted an illness

Implies acquiring an illness from an external source.

succumbed to illness

Implies a more serious or prolonged illness.

developed a disease

Focuses on the development of a specific disease or condition.

declined in health

A more gradual and general expression of failing health.

suffered from a condition

Highlights the suffering caused by a particular health problem.

FAQs

How can I use "became sick" in a sentence?

You can use "became sick" to describe the onset of an illness or a decline in health, for example: "After the trip, she became sick with a fever".

What are some alternatives to saying "became sick"?

Instead of "became sick", you could use phrases like "fell ill", "took ill", or "became unwell", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "became sick" or "got sick"?

Both "became sick" and "got sick" are grammatically correct and widely used. "Got sick" is generally considered more informal than "became sick".

What's the difference between "became sick" and "was sick"?

"Became sick" indicates the transition into a state of illness, while "was sick" describes a state of being ill. For example, "He became sick yesterday" versus "He was sick for a week".