become

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become one flesh

To join together with another person in marriage. Taken from the biblical verse regarding marriage, "And the two shall become one flesh." It can also refer to sexual intercourse in general, which is meant in Judeo-Christian beliefs to be withheld until after marriage. My longtime girlfriend and I finally got engaged, and we will become one flesh this summer. Many people choose to wait until they are married to become one flesh with someone.

become reconciled with (someone or something)

To forgive, accept, or make peace with someone, something, or some situation. I haven't spoken to my brother in 10 years, but I still hope to become reconciled with him some day.

every eel hopes to become a whale

A phrase highlighting one's ambition. Just like every eel hopes to become a whale, I dream of becoming the CEO one day.

See also: become, eel, every, hope, whale

become of (someone)

Happen to. I haven't seen my childhood best friend in years. I wonder what became of her.

See also: become, of

tempers frayed

Things became tense among people; people lost their tempers. Tempers frayed at Thanksgiving when Uncle Stu and Aunt Marsha started arguing about politics.

what will become of (someone or something)

What will happen to someone or something); what will the end result be for someone or something. What will become of our troops when they return home from the war? Will they get the resources they need to readapt to civilian life? Scientists are still trying to determine what will become of the probe once it loses auxiliary power.

What has become of (someone or something)?

What has happened to someone or something? What did the result end up being for someone or something? Sometimes used to express regret or anger over current the state of someone or something. What has become of our great nation? It feels like everything we strove for fifty years ago has been completely eroded. I wonder what's become of Jared. We used to be such good friends, but ever since he moved away I've heard nothing from him. Scientists are still trying to determine what has become of the probe, which they lost contact with ten days ago.

What became of (someone or something)?

What happened to someone or something? What was the end result for someone or something? What ever became of Jared? You used to be such good friends, but you haven't mentioned him once since he moved away. Scientists are still trying to determine what became of the probe, which they lost contact with ten days ago.

become unstuck

To encounter setbacks or fail altogether. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Boy, this party is really becoming unstuck. First, there was the issue with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming.

end up as (something)

To conclude something in a particular state or role. I really think that you and your high school sweetheart will end up as husband and wife. I know I'm an English major, but I really don't want to end up as a teacher.

become a fan of (someone or something)

To begin to like, appreciate, support, and/or be interested in someone or something. You might find this hard to believe, but Cheryl's become a big fan of heavy metal over the years. I've become a fan of Jen's new boyfriend, and, yes, the fact that he brought me fancy chocolates did help!

become fond of (someone or something)

To begin to have an affinity for someone or something. Mike used to really annoy me, but I've become fond of him over the years. Don't worry, your kids will become fond of sleep as they get older, and then you won't be able to get them out of bed before 1 PM. Summer used to be my favorite season, but I've become fond of fall, what with its gorgeous foliage.

become friends with (someone)

To establish an amicable relationship with someone. Jane and I did go to high school together, but I didn't become friends with her until years later.

become grounds for (something)

To form the basis for some action or decision, often one that is disciplinary or legal in nature. If you get caught plagiarizing, it becomes grounds for expulsion, you know.

become of someone or something

to happen or occur to someone or something. Whatever became of Joe and his friends? I don't know what became of my other plaid sock.

See also: become, of

end up (as)( something ) to become something

at the end of everything. I always knew I would end up as a doctor. If I don't get a job, I will end up a beggar.

become of

Happen to, befall, be the fate of, as in I haven't seen Joe in a year; what has become of his book? The King James Bible has this idiom (Genesis 37:20): "We shall see what will become of his dreams." [Late 1500s]

See also: become, of

what will become/has become/became of somebody/something?

used to ask what will happen or what has happened to somebody/something: What became of that student who used to live with you? ♢ I hate to think what will become of them if they lose their home.

See also: became, become, of, somebody, what, will

become of

To happen to someone or something; be the fate of someone or something: Nobody really knows what became of the coach after he retired. What has become of the old garden?

See also: become, of

References in classic literature ?

Nevertheless, when the sun of the Middle Ages is completely set, when the Gothic genius is forever extinct upon the horizon, architecture grows dim, loses its color, becomes more and more effaced.

Traditions had brought forth symbols, beneath which they disappeared like the trunk of a tree beneath its foliage; all these symbols in which humanity placed faith continued to grow, to multiply, to intersect, to become more and more complicated; the first monuments no longer sufficed to contain them, they were overflowing in every part; these monuments hardly expressed now the primitive tradition, simple like themselves, naked and prone upon the earth.

the architectural form of the edifice effaces itself more and more, and allows the geometrical form, like the bony structure of an emaciated invalid, to become prominent.

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Thus, also, it is that continental productions have everywhere become so largely naturalised on islands.

When converted by subsidence into large separate islands, there will still exist many individuals of the same species on each island: intercrossing on the confines of the range of each species will thus be checked: after physical changes of any kind, immigration will be prevented, so that new places in the polity of each island will have to be filled up by modifications of the old inhabitants; and time will be allowed for the varieties in each to become well modified and perfected.

But as from the high geometrical powers of increase of all organic beings, each area is already fully stocked with inhabitants, it follows that as each selected and favoured form increases in number, so will the less favoured forms decrease and become rare.

From these several considerations I think it inevitably follows, that as new species in the course of time are formed through natural selection, others will become rarer and rarer, and finally extinct.

How, then, does the lesser difference between varieties become augmented into the greater difference between species?

The early differences would be very slight; in the course of time, from the continued selection of swifter horses by some breeders, and of stronger ones by others, the differences would become greater, and would be noted as forming two sub-breeds; finally, after the lapse of centuries, the sub-breeds would become converted into two well-established and distinct breeds.

I believe it can and does apply most efficiently, from the simple circumstance that the more diversified the descendants from any one species become in structure, constitution, and habits, by so much will they be better enabled to seize on many and widely diversified places in the polity of nature, and so be enabled to increase in numbers.

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Which errors, had he lived, were not enough to injure him had he not made a sixth by taking away their dominions from the Venetians; because, had he not aggrandized the Church, nor brought Spain into Italy, it would have been very reasonable and necessary to humble them; but having first taken these steps, he ought never to have consented to their ruin, for they, being powerful, would always have kept off others from designs on Lombardy, to which the Venetians would never have consented except to become masters themselves there; also because the others would not wish to take Lombardy from France in order to give it to the Venetians, and to run counter to both they would not have had the courage.

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My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement.

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She went up to him and said, 'I pronounce this spell, that you become a beautiful prince, and that Hadvor shall be unable to say anything against the charges that I shall bring against her.

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I'll prob'ly get lots of rest tomorrow, when I become an orn'ment," said Dorothy, sleepily.

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A summer on the loftiest height, with cold fountains and blissful stillness: oh, come, my friends, that the stillness may become more blissful!