Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Come
Come phrasal verbs often describe things that happen to you: an idea comes up, a cold comes on, a plan comes off.
come about
happen
How did this situation come about?
How did this situation happen?
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come across
discover by chance
I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic.
I discovered an old photo by chance while cleaning the attic.
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come along
accompany
She came along to the party with her friend.
She accompanied her friend to the party.
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come along
progress
The project is really coming along well.
The project is really progressing well.
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come apart
break into pieces
The toy came apart after just one use.
The toy broke into pieces after just one use.
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come around
regain consciousness
After fainting, she finally came around.
After fainting, she finally regained consciousness.
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come back
return
He came back from his vacation yesterday.
He returned from his vacation yesterday.
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come down
decrease
Gas prices have come down recently.
Gas prices have decreased recently.
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come down (with)
become ill
I think I’m coming down with a cold.
I think I’m becoming ill with a cold.
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come from
originate from
This dish comes from Italy.
This dish originates from Italy.
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come into
inherit
He came into a large sum of money after his uncle passed away.
He inherited a large sum of money after his uncle passed away.
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come off
succeed
The plan finally came off as we expected.
The plan finally succeeded as we expected.
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come over
visit
Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?
Why don’t you visit us for dinner tonight?
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come out
be released
The new movie comes out next week.
The new movie will be released next week.
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come through
survive
She came through the surgery.
She survived the surgery.
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come up
be mentioned
The topic of climate change came up during the discussion.
The topic of climate change was mentioned during the discussion.
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come up (with)
suggest
He came up with a brilliant solution to the problem.
He suggested a brilliant solution to the problem.
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come up against
encounter difficulty
The team came up against a tough opponent in the finals.
The team encountered a tough opponent in the finals.
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About this set
Use this page when you want one root verb instead of a situation topic.
Come across and come up with are the two everyday items worth learning first; they are not interchangeable.
Usage notes
- come across. Inseparable. Come across an old photo means find it by chance. Come across as rude is a different pattern (give an impression).
- come up (with). Come up with an idea means invent or suggest it. Come up without with often means happen or appear: something came up.
- come down (with). Come down with a cold is the illness meaning, also in the Health set. Come down alone can mean fall or decrease.
- come around. Can mean visit, recover consciousness, or change your opinion. The sentence around it decides.
Common questions
What is the difference between come across and come up with?
Come across is finding something that already exists, often by chance. Come up with is producing an idea or plan yourself. You come across a note; you come up with a title.
Does come off mean leave?
Not in the usual idiomatic sense. Come off means succeed: the plan came off. For leaving a bus or train, this site uses get off in the travel set.