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Phrasal verbs with COME

Here we have explanations for 39 phrasal verbs which are based on the verb 'come'

Come about

  • Happen or occur
    Examples:
    • How did the accident come about?
    • A big change in the company came about last year.

Come across

  • Find by chance
    Examples:
    • She came across a useful article online.
    • I came across my old photos while cleaning the attic.
  • Give a specific impression
    Examples:
    • He comes across as very confident in meetings.
    • The instructions didn't come across very clearly.

Come after

  • Follow or pursue
    Examples:
    • The dog came after the postman.
    • In the movie, the hero came after the thieves.

Come along

  • Accompany
    Examples:
    • My friend came along with me to the shop.
    • We are going to the park. Do you want to come along?
  • Make progress or improve
    Examples:
    • How is the new project coming along?
    • Your English is coming along very well!

Come apart

  • Break into pieces
    Examples:
    • My shoe came apart after only a week.
    • The toy came apart in the child's hands.

Come around

  • Regain consciousness
    Examples:
    • She fainted, but came around a few moments later.
    • It took a few minutes for the patient to come around after the surgery.
  • Visit someone
    Examples:
    • My friends came around unexpectedly last night.
    • Why don't you come around for coffee this weekend?
  • Change opinion
    Examples:
    • She finally came around to my idea.
    • He will come around if you give him time.

Come away

  • Become separated or detached
    Examples:
    • The wallpaper started to come away from the wall.
    • The door handle came away in my hand when I pulled it.
  • Leave with a feeling or result
    Examples:
    • I came away from the meeting feeling positive.
    • The team was lucky to come away with a win after a tough game.

Come at

  • Attack, move towards aggressively
    Examples:
    • The dog came at the stranger.
    • The man came at me with a stick.

Come back

  • Return
    Examples:
    • Long skirts are coming back into fashion.
    • I need to come back to the shop, I forgot my wallet.

Come before

  • Be considered or judged
    Examples:
    • The case will come before the court tomorrow.
    • The company's failures will come before the board of directors.
  • Be more important
    Examples:
    • Safety must always come before speed.
    • My family will always come before my career.

Come between

  • Cause a disagreement or problem
    Examples:
    • I would never let money come between me and my family.
    • Their argument came between them and they stopped being friends.

Come by

  • Visit
    Examples:
    • She came by the office to say hello.
    • You should come by sometime for a chat.
  • Get or obtain
    Examples:
    • How did you come by that money?
    • Good jobs are hard to come by these days.

Come for

  • Arrive to take
    Examples:
    • The taxi will come for you at 8.
    • He came for his books that he left at my house.

Come forth

  • Appear, be shown
    Examples:
    • At last, the truth came forth.
    • The police asked for witnesses to come forth.

Come from

  • Originate, be from a place
    Examples:
    • This word comes from Latin.
    • Where does that strange noise come from?

Come into

  • Inherit
    Examples:
    • She came into a lot of money when her uncle died.
    • I came into some money and was able to pay off my student loans.
  • Be a part of a situation
    Examples:
    • I'm doing it because I want to help. Money doesn't come into it.
    • Logic doesn't come into the discussion because it's purely an emotional decision.

Come off

  • Happen successfully
    Examples:
    • The deal didn't come off after all.
    • The surprise party came off as we had planned.
  • Become detached or separated
    Examples:
    • A button came off my shirt.
    • The paint is coming off the wall.

Come on

  • Encourage or hurry
    Examples:
    • Come on, we're going to be late!
    • Come on, you can do it! Don't give up!
  • Start to function (for machines or illnesses)
    Examples:
    • I feel a headache coming on.
    • The lights came on automatically.

Come over

  • Visit someone's house
    Examples:
    • My cousins are coming over for lunch.
    • Why don't you come over after work?
  • Be affected by a sudden feeling
    Examples:
    • A sadness came over me as I thought about it.
    • I don't know what came over me, but I just started shouting.

Come to

  • Regain consciousness
    Examples:
    • After the surgery, it took him a while to come to.
    • The boxer was knocked out, but he came to a few minutes later.
  • Reach a total amount
    Examples:
    • The costs will come to a lot in the end.
    • The total bill for our groceries came to exactly $50.

Come together

  • Unite, join for a purpose
    Examples:
    • Our team is finally starting to come together.
    • The community came together to help the victims.

Come under

  • Be attacked or criticized
    Examples:
    • The company came under pressure from customers.
    • The politician came under fire for her controversial statements.

Come upon

  • Find by chance
    Examples:
    • I came upon this book in a second-hand shop.
    • We came upon a beautiful little village during our walk.

Come with

  • Be included
    Examples:
    • This phone comes with a charger.
    • The meal comes with a free drink.

Come in

  • Enter a place
    Examples:
    • Please, come in and have a seat.
    • The cat wanted to come in out of the rain.
  • Finish in a specific position in a competition
    Examples:
    • The horse came in last.
    • The runner came in first place.
  • Arrive or be received
    Examples:
    • The exam results will come in next week.
    • My salary comes in on the last Friday of the month.

Come in for

  • Receive (criticism, blame, praise)
    Examples:
    • The design came in for some harsh comments.
    • The government has come in for a lot of criticism over its new policy.

Come through

  • Be received
    Examples:
    • We're still waiting for the test results to come through.
    • A message came through from the head office this morning.
  • Survive, continue after a hard time
    Examples:
    • The team came through a difficult season.
    • The old house came through the storm without any serious damage.

Come through with

  • Provide, deliver what is needed
    Examples:
    • He promised to help and he came through with his promise.
    • We needed £500, and my parents came through with the money.

Come up

  • Be mentioned
    Examples:
    • Your name came up in our meeting today.
    • That issue never came up during our discussion.
  • Happen or occur unexpectedly
    Examples:
    • Sorry I'm late, something came up at home.
    • A new job opportunity came up, and I decided to apply.

Come up with

  • Think of an idea or solution
    Examples:
    • She came up with a great idea for the party.
    • No one could come up with a clear explanation for the accident.

Come up against

  • Face a problem or difficulty
    Examples:
    • We came up against strong competition in this field.
    • You might come up against some opposition to your plans.

Come up to

  • Approach or move towards someone
    Examples:
    • The child came up to the teacher.
    • A stranger came up to me in the street.
  • Reach a standard
    Examples:
    • The hotel didn't come up to our expectations.
    • His work doesn't come up to the required level.

Come out

  • Become visible or known.
    Examples:
    • The news finally came out yesterday.
    • The sun came out from behind the clouds.
  • Become publicly known or available
    Examples:
    • When does the new Marvel film come out?
    • It came out in the news that the company was in financial trouble.
  • Say publicly that you are gay, lesbian, etc.
    Examples:
    • She decided to come out to her friends after a lot of thought.
    • The celebrity came out as transgender in an exclusive interview.

Come out in

  • Have a rash or similar skin problem
    Examples:
    • I came out in a rash after using that new soap.
    • She came out in spots after eating strawberries.

Come out of

  • Result from
    Examples:
    • She came out of the meeting feeling positive.
    • A lot of good ideas came out of the discussion.

Come down

  • Fall, move to a lower level or place
    Examples:
    • The tree came down in the storm.
    • He came down the stairs to greet his guests.
  • Reduce
    Examples:
    • The number of accidents has come down.
    • The price of petrol has come down recently.

Come down on

  • Criticize or punish severely
    Examples:
    • The boss came down on him for being late again.
    • My parents came down on me when I failed my exam.

Come down to

  • Depend on, be about
    Examples:
    • The decision comes down to cost.
    • It all came down to who was the fastest runner.

Come down with

  • Become ill
    Examples:
    • I think I'm coming down with a cold.
    • She came down with the flu and had to stay in bed.

Exercises for practice

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