What Are Synonyms For “Become” And How to Use Them?

Should we say “he became addicted” or “he got addicted?” Is it “to fall sick” or “to get sick?” Why do we say “he went bankrupt” but not “he turned bankrupt?”

In English, there are several synonyms for the verb “to become,” all with different meanings and connotations. Consequently, to determine which verb to use in which context is fairly difficult.

In this article, we will explore the various synonyms of become, in what contexts we use them, and how each one differs from the rest.

Some other words for “become”

Be vs. become

Before learning about the various synonyms of “become,” let us first discuss how the verb “to become” is different in its usage from the verb “to be.”

We use the verb “to be” to describe someone or something: we could talk about someone’s age—like “I’m 25,” or their physical or emotional state, “I am sick,” or “I am upset.” We can use it to talk about the color of an object, “the leaves are green,” and so much more.

But these are all properties that change or grow constantly. They are never fixed. “To be” can only describe the state of something at a given moment. But what about the moment we transition from one property to another or one state to another? How do we convey that?—Through the verb “become” and its various synonyms.

In the sentence “I am famous,” we’re conveying that at the moment of speaking, i.e., at present, I am a famous man. However, in the sentence, “He became famous after the scandal,” we’re referring to the event that made him famous. It helps us denote the time when he acquired his fame.

Now that we’ve understood the use of the verb “to become,” let us dive in.

Get as another word for “become”

The verb “become” generally denotes a gradual change, i.e., a change that took place over a long period of time. Meanwhile, “get” conveys a rather sudden or abrupt change.

Examples:

In the early ages, language was very simplistic. But as time went by, languages became increasingly complex and diverse.

We turned the AC on full-blast, and it got chilly very quickly.

To understand this nuance better, let’s take the following examples:

He got addicted to social media.

It was fine at first, but over time, she became addicted to cigarettes.

“To get addicted” conveys that his addiction was fairly quick to develop, whereas the use of “become” denotes that her addiction developed gradually.

Get is commonly used to describe our physical or emotional states.

Examples:

I got surprised when my friends threw me a birthday party.

I got angry when she mentioned my ex-wife.

I am getting tired of your endless whining.

Get is also used with words like “dark” or “late.”

Examples:

Please hurry. I’m getting late.

I think we should leave. It is getting dark outside, and I don’t want to drive in the dark.

“Grow”—one of the synonyms for become

Very much like the verb become, “grow” also suggests a gradual change in the state of things. It is important to note that the use of the verb “grow” is fairly literary. In novels, you will find it all too often when we talk about our emotional states or the changes that come with the passage of time.

Examples:

As we grow older, we gain wisdom and experience.

He grew weary of his life.

Kids grow wiser with time.

The city grew prosperous over the years.

It is growing darker outside.

The use of grow adds a literary touch, a poetic feeling to these sentences. It shows how, as time passes, things change and develop.

Go—another word for “become”

“Go” is another synonym for become and is generally used with words that have a negative connotation.

Examples:

Many start-ups went bankrupt following the lockdowns during the Pandemic.

He went mad after his wife died. It was really a shame. They were such a happy couple.

The species went extinct due to increased human activity in the region.

Two hikers went missing this morning.

The milk went sour.

And the bread went stale.

All these words and expressions, as you can see, denote something deteriorating. The verb “to go” denotes a change that is negative or undesirable.

“Fall” is among synonyms for “become”

The use of the verb “fall” as a verb of transition stems from its core meaning of physical descent. It can convey ideas of decline or loss.

Examples:

After that incident, our relationship fell apart. We haven’t talked since.

Our sales figures have fallen short this quarter.

Fall is also used to describe sudden changes in our state, typically those which are out of our control.

Examples:

I fell in love the first time I saw her smile.

I was rather tuckered out, and the moment I got under the sheets, I fell asleep.

I ate ice cream yesterday, and I fell ill.

“Turn” as a synonym of “become”

Turn usually collocates with adjectives of color and appearance. Consequently, it is used with very apparent changes.

Examples:

The leaves turned yellow.

He turned red with embarrassment.

A very important use of the verb turn in the context of change is to talk about our age.

Examples:

I turn 45 this year.

When I turned 19, I bought my first bike.

We can also use “turn” to express a change in behavior or attitude.

Example:

He turned violent after drinking.

And lastly, “turn” can also be used to convey an undesirable change.

Examples:

Like the protests turned violent (as an alternative for getting violent).

The milk turned sour (as an alternative to go sour).

The use of “become” synonyms with adjectives

It is important to note that some adjectives can be used with multiple transition verbs. To demonstrate, I’d like to give you an example of the adjective “pale.” The shade of pale is associated with a sickly appearance that is typically a result of some negative emotion or state like illness or stress.

We can use this adjective with the following verbs:

He got pale.

He turned pale (because it is a color).

He went pale (because it is an undesirable consequence).

Conclusion

Our example goes to show that there are no fixed definitions that could help us navigate this rather complicated topic. However, with practice, we gradually get an intuitive understanding of which synonym of “become” has to be used in which contexts.