became

Maggie was resting her elbow on the table, leaning her head on her hand and looking at Philip with half-penitent dependent affection, as she said this; while he was returning her gaze with an expression that, to her consciousness, gradually became less vague, —became charged with a specific recollection.

VII. Philip Re-enters. Book VI—The Great Temptation 1917

Every shadow became something more than a shadow, —became an ambush; every rustle became a threat.

The Thing in the Forest Herbert George 1896

But the process to extend his term became bogged down in a series of disputes that had raised an outside chance that Mr. Mueller's tenure would be briefly interrupted.

NYT > Home Page By CHARLIE SAVAGE 2011

The term became widely known after the film based on the novel was released in 1963, and it quickly became an epithet for rude, self-centered people who roamed the world with utter disregard—even disdain—for other cultures.

ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

The term became widely known after the film based on the novel was released in 1963, and it quickly became an epithet for rude, self-centered people who roamed the world with utter disregard—even disdain—for other cultures.

ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

The term became widely known after the film based on the novel was released in 1963, and it quickly became an epithet for rude, self-centered people who roamed the world with utter disregard—even disdain—for other cultures.

ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007

In 1930, the term became specific, as “a national hook-up” came to denote a radio network.

The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004

In 1930, the term became specific, as “a national hook-up” came to denote a radio network.

The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004

Using a series of check marks, the label became a marketing device whose chief value was to tell people which potato chips or cookies were less unhealthy than others.

SFGate: Don Asmussen: Bad Reporter Chron clochhead@sfchronicle.com (Carolyn Lochhead 2011

Old-School Cornerbacks Have Taught a New Generation Lester Hayes 37 and Mike Haynes were so-called shutdown cornerbacks for the Raiders in the 1980s, before the term became fashionable.

NYT > Home Page By BEN SHPIGEL 2011