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.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
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
go somewhere with someone
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 coming along.
The project is progressing.
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come apart
separate into parts
The toy came apart after just one use.
The toy separated into parts after just one use.
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come around
become conscious again
A few minutes after fainting, she came around.
A few minutes after fainting, she 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.
Three-word and inseparable. You come down with flu, never come flu down with.
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come from
be from a particular place
This dish comes from Italy.
This dish originates from Italy.
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come into
inherit money or property
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
Despite a few problems, the plan came off.
Despite a few problems, the plan succeeded.
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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 film will come out next week.
The new film will be released next week.
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come through
survive
She came through the surgery.
She survived the surgery.
Survive a difficult experience: come through the surgery or come through it. The experience can be omitted: she came through safely.
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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
imagine or suggest an idea
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
face a difficult opponent or problem
The team came up against a tough opponent in the finals.
The team encountered a tough opponent in the finals.
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18 meanings of 17 come phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| come about | happen | No object |
| come across | discover by chance | Inseparable |
| come along | go somewhere with someone | No object |
| come along | progress | No object |
| come apart | separate into parts | No object |
| come around | become conscious again | No object |
| come back | return | No object |
| come down | decrease | No object |
| come down with | become ill | Inseparable |
| come from | be from a particular place | Inseparable |
| come into | inherit money or property | Inseparable |
| come off | succeed | No object |
| come over | visit | No object |
| come out | be released | No object |
| come through | survive | Pattern varies |
| come up | be mentioned | No object |
| come up with | imagine or suggest an idea | Inseparable |
| come up against | face a difficult opponent or problem | Inseparable |
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.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: I came a useful article across yesterday.
Correct: I came across a useful article yesterday.
Come across is inseparable, so the object never sits inside it.
Incorrect: She came up a better plan.
Correct: She came up with a better plan.
Come up alone means to be mentioned. Suggesting something needs come up with.
Incorrect: He came down a cold last week.
Correct: He came down with a cold last week.
The with belongs to the verb in this sense and cannot be dropped.
Incorrect: Where do you come?
Correct: Where do you come from?
Come from needs its preposition, and in a question it stays at the end.
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.