This is the 17131st most frequent Russian word.
становился
"Became" or "was becoming."
The word 'становился' is used here to indicate a gradual change over time, translating to 'became' in English.
Он становился сильнее с каждым днём.
He became stronger every day.
In this sentence, 'становился' specifies a progression or transformation of the state of the city.
Постепенно город становился всё более оживлённым.
Gradually, the city became more lively.
Here, 'становился' describes the alteration in the appearance or expression of someone's face.