become estranged

Meaning

To become estranged means to no longer be on friendly terms or in communication with someone, typically a family member. This usually happens after a major disagreement, betrayal, or gradual drift over time, carrying a formal and serious tone.

Examples

• After years of arguing over the family business, the two brothers eventually became estranged.

  After years of arguing over the family business, the two brothers eventually became estranged.

• She feared she would become estranged from her daughter if they didn't resolve their issues soon.

  She feared she would become estranged from her daughter if they didn't resolve their issues soon.

• He became estranged from his parents after moving abroad and changing his lifestyle completely.

  He became estranged from his parents after moving abroad and changing his lifestyle completely.

• It is sad to see how a once-close family can become estranged over simple misunderstandings.

  It is sad to see how a once-close family can become estranged over simple misunderstandings.

• The novel tells the story of how the father and son became estranged during the war.

  The novel tells the story of how the father and son became estranged during the war.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He became estranged with his family.

  ✓ He became estranged from his family.

  The preposition 'from' is always used after 'estranged' to indicate the person or group one has drifted apart from.

• ✗ They became estranges many years ago.

  ✓ They became estranged many years ago.

  'Estranged' functions as an adjective here, so it needs the standard '-ed' ending after the linking verb 'become'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After the inheritance dispute, the sisters unfortunately ___ from each other.

  💡 Use the past tense of 'become' plus the adjective.

  Show answer

  became estranged

• He was worried that he would ___ from his children if the divorce turned bitter.

  💡 Use the base form of the expression.

  Show answer

  become estranged