The phrasal verb "become of" is predominantly used in informal speech, often inquiring about what happened to someone or something, particularly when their current situation or fate is unknown or surprising. For example, one might ask, "What became of that old bookstore downtown?" indicating curiosity about the store's fate. It is common in conversational contexts, casual writing, and storytelling, where it serves to express curiosity or concern about the outcome or whereabouts of a person or thing. Rarely used in formal writing, it carries an informal, speculative tone. The phrase is typically employed in the past tense to indicate a completed event or transformation.
B1
Intermediate
1. To inquire about the fate or condition of someone or something.
I wonder what will become of the old house now that it's been abandoned.
Nobody knew what became of the missing hiker until he was found days later.