becoming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "becoming" is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as an adjective to describe something as being attractive or fitting, such as in the sentence "She wore a becoming dress to the wedding".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What was a trickle is becoming a river and will, I suspect, become a flood.

The Guardian

Ian Flintoff Oxford This election is becoming increasingly blurred as the facial expressions and gestures of the combatants become magnified under the unforgiving eye of the TV cameras and the spin doctors regurgitate the views of their representatives and add their own snide remarks.

The Guardian

"In my normal way, I probably would have said, 'I'll look into it.' " Costa said Obeid began to lobby him about AWH within a month of him becoming a minister and he had a conversation with Obeid in which Obeid suggested a corruption complaint may be made against Schott.

The Guardian

In April, Chafee told the Washington Post that Clinton's vote for the Iraq war should prevent her from becoming president.

The Guardian

My aunt is in her late 70s and is becoming more forgetful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Clegg's warm-up act was Lib Dem president Sal Brinton, who reinforced the sense that this election is becoming a comically unedifying turf war over meaningless bits of vocabulary.

The Guardian

"We realised our consultations were becoming longer and more complex," Smith says in the presentation.

The Guardian

Consider this: 62% of the survey's respondents hold more than 10% of their portfolio in cash, while 8% now have more than 50% in cash – in spite of the fact that, as US Trust officials note, they're actually becoming more positive about the outlook for financial markets.

The Guardian - Money

In light of all the gun violence we have seen in recent months, I have come to believe that in the very worst scenario – the US becoming a dystopian dictatorship with food riots, total censorship, zombies and Sarah Palin – it is the latter that has a better chance of saving my life and less likelihood of getting me killed.

The Guardian - Opinion

El Hatillo is becoming engulfed by Caracas but maintains its 16th-century charm.

The Guardian - Travel

Opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim scored a bigger than expected victory in a byelection today, boosting his chances of becoming prime minister.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "becoming" to describe a gradual process of change or development, rather than a sudden transformation. For instance, "The weather is becoming colder" suggests a gradual change, whereas "The frog transformed into a prince" indicates an instantaneous change.

Common error

Avoid using "becoming" when "being" is more appropriate. "Becoming" implies a change over time, while "being" describes a current state. For example, say "She is a doctor" instead of "She is becoming a doctor" unless she is actively training to be one.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "becoming" is a verb, specifically the present participle of "become", indicating an ongoing process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively portrays a continuous transition. It can also function as an adjective, meaning suitable or attractive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "becoming" is a versatile term primarily used as a verb to depict an ongoing transformation or as an adjective to denote suitability. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, most notably in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, writers should be mindful of its primary function to describe a process rather than a static state. To enhance your writing, use "becoming" to illustrate gradual changes and avoid replacing it with "being" when describing a current condition. Alternatives like "evolving into" or "transforming into" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evolving into

Focuses on gradual development into a new state.

transforming into

Highlights a significant change in form or nature.

turning into

Indicates a change in condition or character.

maturing into

Emphasizes growth and development towards a more advanced state.

developing into

Suggests a progressive growth or evolution.

getting more

Implies an increase in a specific quality or characteristic.

growing into

Focuses on natural progression and adaptation.

proving to be

Indicates the demonstration of a particular quality over time.

suitable for

Shifts the meaning to indicate appropriateness rather than transformation.

fitting for

Emphasizes the appropriateness or attractiveness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "becoming" in a sentence?

"Becoming" can describe a process of change, as in "The project is "becoming more complex"", or to indicate something is suitable, such as "That hat is "becoming on you"".

What words are similar to "becoming" when describing a change?

Alternatives include "transforming into", "evolving into", or "developing into", which all suggest a process of change or growth.

Is it correct to use "becoming" to describe a state of being, rather than a process?

Generally, no. "Becoming" typically implies a change or progression. To describe a current state, use "is", "are", or other forms of "to be".

What's the difference between "becoming" and "become"?

"Becoming" is the present participle or gerund form of "become", used to describe an ongoing process. "Become" is the base form of the verb or past participle, used to indicate a completed change or transformation. For example, "She is becoming a leader" versus "She has become a leader".