became

Became is the simple past tense of the English verb become. It is used to describe a change of state or condition that happened in the past. The corresponding past participle is become, as in “has become” or “had become.”

The verb become is irregular because its past tense does not end with -ed. Its principal forms are: become (present), becoming (present participle), became (simple past), and become (past participle). The past tense form, became, is used for completed changes in the past, while become is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses.

Usage examples illustrate its range. “The caterpillar became a butterfly” shows a natural transformation. “It became clear that there was a problem” conveys a realization over time. “She became a doctor after years of study” marks a change in status or role. In addition, become can appear with adjectives to describe suitability, as in “That color becomes you.”

Etymology and history: the verb has roots in Old English and is related to other Germanic languages. Its development reflects a general pattern of English verbs that express change of state, often with extended or figurative meanings. In modern usage, become frequently appears in discussions of growth, development, and outcomes, as well as in idiomatic phrases like “to become accustomed to” or “to become involved in.”

See also: become (verb); becoming (adjective/gerund).