Becoming
that suits or gives a pleasing effect or attractive appearance, as to a person or thing:
a becoming dress; a becoming hairdo.
suitable; appropriate; proper:
a becoming sentiment.
any process of change.
Aristotelianism. any change involving realization of potentialities, as a movement from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality.
to come, change, or grow to be (as specified):
He became tired.
to come into being.
to be attractive on; befit in appearance; look well on:
That gown becomes you.
to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of:
conduct that becomes an officer.
become of, to happen to; be the fate of:
What will become of him?
Contemporary Examples
Since becoming a mom, I’ve learned the importance of drinking.
Mommy’s Little Secret? Coffee And Booze. Sally Kohn May 10, 2014
When it comes to the increasing number of rape allegations leveled at Bill Cosby, the smoke is becoming impenetrable.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014
Kevin Fallon December 26, 2014
His health is also poor, but he probably stands a good chance at becoming king when Abdullah dies.
Meet Prince Salman, the Next Saudi King Bruce Riedel June 15, 2012
The abortion battleground is becoming a fight over reams of red tape.
The Triumph of Bureaucracy Over Abortion Rights Michelle Goldberg September 8, 2013
Six months after becoming a Shiite Muslim, Giganti entered into his first temporary marriage with a Spanish Catholic woman.
Islam’s Sex Licenses Betwa Sharma April 28, 2009
Historical Examples
She is becoming just, scrupulous, humane, and therefore she is doomed.
Appearances Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson
It exists, and goes forward, becoming a factor in the thought-life of our time.
The Conquest of Fear Basil King
Mme. Rosemilly exclaimed, becoming a little serious as they entered the room.
Pierre and Jean Guy de Maupassant
It was becoming certain that their self-respect was awakened.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking Isabella Alden
“becoming commoner every day, you’ll find,” interjaculated the Colonel.
Aaron’s Rod D. H. Lawrence
adjective
suitable; appropriate
noun
any process of change
(in the philosophy of Aristotle) any change from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality
verb (mainly intransitive) -comes, -coming, -came, -come
(copula) to come to be; develop or grow into: he became a monster
(foll by of; usually used in a question) to fall to or be the lot (of); happen (to): what became of him?
(transitive) (of clothes, etc) to enhance the appearance of (someone); suit: that dress becomes you
(transitive) to be appropriate; befit: it ill becomes you to complain
adj.
“looking well,” 1560s, from earlier sense of “fitting” (early 13c.), from present participle of become. Related: Becomingly; becomingness.
v.
Old English becuman “happen, come about,” also “meet with, arrive,” from Proto-Germanic *bikweman “become” (cf. Dutch bekomen, Old High German biqueman “obtain,” German bekommen, Gothic biquiman). A compound of be- and come; it drove out Old English weorðan. Meaning “to look well” is early 14c., from earlier sense of “to agree with, be fitting” (early 13c.).
In addition to the idiom beginning with become , also see idioms beginning with get
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to dash or spatter (something) all over: to bedash a salad with pepper. to dash or strike against: windows bedashed with rain. to demolish or ruin; obliterate: His dreams of glory were quickly bedashed.
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to impress forcefully, especially so as to make oblivious to faults or shortcomings: Audiences were bedazzled by her charm. to dazzle so as to blind or confuse: The glare of the headlights bedazzled him. verb (transitive) to dazzle or confuse, as with brilliance v. 1590s, from be- + dazzle (v.). Related: Bedazzled; bedazzling.