becoming

When we talk about becoming, we are usually talking about a transformation. It is the bridge between who you are now and who you will be later. Think of it as a journey of change.

There is also a second, very different meaning. When someone says a hat is becoming, they mean it makes you look great! It is a polite, slightly old-fashioned way of saying something is flattering.

The word becoming comes from the Old English word becuman, which meant 'to arrive' or 'to happen.' Over centuries, it evolved to describe the process of coming into a new state.

The secondary meaning—being attractive—grew from the idea that if something 'becomes' you, it fits your character or appearance perfectly. It is a lovely example of how English words can shift from simple physical movement to abstract beauty.

Use becoming when you want to describe a process of change. You might say, 'She is becoming a doctor.' It is very common in professional and casual settings alike.

When using it to mean 'attractive,' keep in mind it sounds a bit formal or literary. You are more likely to hear it in a boutique or a classic novel than at a skate park!

While 'becoming' is a verb, it appears in many phrases. 1. Becoming of someone: Used to say something is appropriate for a person's status. 2. Becoming to: Used to describe clothing that suits someone. 3. The becoming of: Referring to the start of an era. 4. Becoming a reality: When a dream actually happens. 5. Becoming a habit: When you do something so often it becomes automatic.

In British English, the IPA is /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/, and it is largely the same in American English. The stress is on the second syllable: be-COM-ing.

It rhymes with overcoming, incoming, succumbing, strumming, and humming. Remember, it is a continuous verb form, so it is almost always paired with a state of being.