Quick Answer: Both get and become describe a change of state. Get is informal and suggests a change that is relatively quick or sudden: She got angry. Become is more formal and often suggests a gradual or significant change: He became a doctor. In everyday speech, get is much more common; in formal or written English, become is preferred. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘get’.

At a Glance: Get vs Become

WordPart of SpeechMeaningExample
getverbinformal change of state (quick/sudden)She got tired. / It's getting dark.
becomeverbformal/gradual change of state; take on a roleHe became famous. / She became a nurse.

Using Get

Get is used to describe a change of state in everyday informal English. It is followed by an adjective. Get + adjective is the standard pattern for talking about how someone or something changes:

It's getting cold outside.

She got angry when she heard the news.

He got lost on the way to the station.

Don't get upset — it was just a joke.

Get + Comparative Adjective

Get is also common with comparative adjectives to describe gradual change over time:

The traffic is getting worse every year.

She's getting better after the operation.

Prices are getting higher and higher.

Using Become

Become is more formal than get and is preferred in written and academic English. It suggests a more permanent, significant, or gradual change — often relating to identity, role, or status. Become can be followed by a noun or an adjective:

She became the first woman to run the company.

The situation became complicated.

He became interested in photography at university.

They became good friends over the years.

Become + Noun (Role/Identity)

Unlike get, become can be followed by a noun to describe taking on a role or identity. Get cannot do this:

She became a lawyer. (role)

He became a father at 30. (identity)

The city became a major cultural centre. (transformation)

She got a lawyer. (WRONG in the sense of “became” — “got a lawyer” means hired one)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1 — Using “get” before a noun role

She got a teacher after studying for years.

She became a teacher after studying for years.

Note: get + a/an + noun means to obtain, not to transform into. Use become for identity/role changes.

Mistake 2 — Using “become” in informal conversation where “get” is natural

I became cold on the walk home. (sounds stiff)

I got cold on the walk home.

Note: in everyday informal speech, get sounds natural for quick physical/emotional changes. Become sounds overly formal.

Mistake 3 — Confusing “get” (obtain) with “become”

He became a phone for his birthday. (makes no sense)

He got a phone for his birthday. (obtained)

Note: get often means “obtain” or “receive” — always check the context to ensure you mean a change of state, not acquisition.

Related Confusing Word Pairs

Quick Quiz: Get vs Become

Choose the correct word for each sentence.

1. “After years of hard work, she ___ a professor.”

2. “It's ___ really dark — we should head home.”

3. “Over time, the neighbourhood ___ more affluent.”

4. “He ___ angry when he read the message.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between get and become?
Both describe a change of state. Get is informal and common in everyday speech: “She got tired.” Become is more formal and often implies a gradual or significant change: “He became a doctor.” Become can also be followed by nouns (roles/identities); get cannot.
Can get and become always be swapped?
Not always. Become is preferred in formal writing and when describing roles: “She became a teacher.” Get sounds more natural for quick, informal changes: “I got cold.” Also, become cannot replace get when get means “obtain”: “I got a new phone.”
Which is more formal — get or become?
Become is more formal. In academic writing, business English, and formal prose, become is preferred: “The market became saturated.” In everyday speech, get is far more common: “It's getting late.”
Can become be followed by a noun?
Yes. Become + noun describes taking on a role or identity: “She became a nurse.” / “He became president.” Get cannot be used this way for role changes — “she got a nurse” means she hired a nurse.
What is the difference between “get better” and “become better”?
Both are grammatically correct. Get better is more informal and common in speech: “She's getting better.” Become better is more formal or literary: “The situation is becoming better” / “He became better at chess over time.”
What tense is most common with become?
Become is common in the simple past (“he became”) and present perfect (“she has become”) for describing completed changes, and in the present continuous (“it is becoming”) for ongoing change. All tenses are possible.
Is “getting” the same as “becoming”?
In many contexts, yes: “It's getting dark” ≈ “It's becoming dark.” Getting is more informal; becoming is more formal. Becoming is also often used with longer processes: “The city is becoming more diverse.”
What are common collocations with get (change of state)?
Get angry, get tired, get lost, get bored, get cold, get dark, get worse, get better, get confused, get excited, get married, get dressed.
What are common collocations with become?
Become aware, become popular, become famous, become clear, become necessary, become part of, become involved, become a member, become president, become a reality.
How do get and become appear in IELTS writing?
In IELTS Task 2, become is the safer choice in formal writing: “As cities become more crowded...” Get is acceptable in Task 1 when describing data trends informally. Using become in formal academic sentences shows register awareness, which contributes to a higher score.