becomes

USAGE SUMMARY

"becomes" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that is used to indicate the process of something beginning to be, or changing into, something else. For example: "After the long winter, the grassland soon becomes a sea of green."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Richard Farnsworth, 78, becomes the oldest actor ever to be nominated, for his part in David Lynch's The Straight Story.

The Guardian - Film

"The outcome is that the urban pattern becomes more segregated, more differentiated.

The Guardian

A healthy "attention span" becomes just another ineffable quality to remember having, to believe you've lost, to worry about your kids lacking, to blame the culture for destroying.

The New York Times - Magazine

The aim of the negotiations is to reconfigure the Iranian nuclear programme so that the international community can be confident it will not be used to build a warhead in secret, or so quickly that Iran becomes a nuclear-armed state before the rest of the world has time to react.

The Guardian

Light becomes a resource that can be bought by the wealthy, eclipsed for the poor.

The Guardian

Dave Smith, the group's spokesman, said: "Hopefully by the BSG applying for core participant status, we will be able to guarantee that spying on trade unions and passing over information to private companies becomes a theme within the Pitchford inquiry".

The Guardian

"Alex's job was to come in in a big way when the white paper was launched – [that was] actually the period of the campaign when it becomes the people's campaign as opposed to the media campaign," said Pringle.

The Guardian

If Benkler is right, the real-world economy of the 21st century becomes itself a giant game, in which non-market forms interact with the classic models based on scarcity and competition.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The longer a motorist protects their NCD and doesn't make a claim, the less cost-effective it becomes," says Kevin Pratt, insurance expert at Moneysupermarket.

The Guardian - Money

But as soon as I press on how this charming man could have caused such offence, every point becomes contested.

The Guardian

In such moments natural beauty becomes a kind of devastation – it is pure encounter, too compressed in time and space to be properly contained.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becomes" to describe a transition or change over time. For example, "The caterpillar becomes a butterfly."

Common error

Ensure that the verb tense of "becomes" is consistent with the context of the sentence. Avoid mixing past and present tenses inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "becomes" is that of a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form of "become." It functions as a linking verb, connecting the subject to a noun or adjective that describes or renames it. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "becomes" is a versatile verb used to denote a transition or change of state. It is grammatically correct and extremely common in written and spoken English, particularly in news and media contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase functions as a linking verb to connect a subject with a descriptor. When writing, ensure that the tense is consistent and appropriate to the context. Alternatives such as "turns into" or "evolves into" can be used for variety. Avoiding tense inconsistencies is critical for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turns into

Focuses on the transformation aspect of "becomes", highlighting a change in form or nature.

evolves into

Implies a gradual development or progression into something else.

transforms into

Suggests a significant and often dramatic change.

is converted to

Indicates a change in state or form, often through a specific process.

grows into

Emphasizes the gradual development and maturation process.

is made into

Focuses on the action of creating or transforming something.

ends up being

Highlights the final state or result of a process.

comes to be

Emphasizes the process of something starting to exist or be recognized.

is altered to

Suggests a modification or adjustment to a new state.

is changed to

Simple and direct way to express alteration or transformation.

FAQs

How to use "becomes" in a sentence?

"Becomes" is used to indicate a transition or change of state. For example, "Water becomes ice when it freezes."

What can I say instead of "becomes"?

You can use alternatives like "turns into", "evolves into", or "transforms into" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "becomes" or "became"?

"Becomes" is the present tense, used for ongoing or habitual actions. "Became" is the past tense, used for completed actions.

What's the difference between "becomes" and "is becoming"?

"Becomes" describes a general change, while "is becoming" ("is becoming") describes a change in progress.