You may come across an old photograph, come up with a solution, or come down with a cold. Each expression begins with come, but the following particle or preposition creates a different meaning and grammar pattern.
Some phrasal verbs with come do not take an object:
The opportunity came up unexpectedly.
Others require a noun or pronoun after the complete expression:
Emma came across an interesting article.
Emma came across it yesterday.
Longer patterns also remain together:
The team came up with a better plan.
Incorrect: The team came a better plan up with.
Learning each expression with its complete pattern helps you choose the correct meaning and place any complement accurately.
Quick List of Phrasal Verbs With Come
| Expression | Short meaning | Complete pattern |
|---|---|---|
| come about | happen | come about |
| come across | find or meet by chance; give an impression | come across somebody or something; come across as something |
| come along | arrive, accompany, or make progress | come along; come along with somebody |
| come apart | separate into pieces | come apart |
| come around | visit, regain consciousness, or change your opinion | come around; come around to something |
| come back | return or become popular again | come back; come back to something |
| come between | damage or interrupt a relationship | come between people |
| come by | obtain or acquire | come by something |
| come down | fall, decrease, or be removed | come down |
| come forward | offer information or help | come forward; come forward with something |
| come from | originate or result from | come from somewhere or something |
| come in | enter, arrive, or finish in a position | come in |
| come into | inherit money or property | come into something |
| come off | become detached, succeed, or create an impression | come off; come off as something |
| come on | begin operating, develop, or encourage | come on |
| come out | be released, become known, or be removed | come out |
| come over | visit or be suddenly affected by a feeling | come over; come over somebody |
| come through | arrive, survive, or provide what is needed | come through; come through something |
| come to | regain consciousness or total an amount | come to; come to something |
| come under | experience criticism, pressure, or control | come under something |
| come up | arise, approach, or become available | come up |
| come down to | depend on one essential factor | come down to something or doing something |
| come down with | begin suffering from an illness | come down with something |
| come in for | receive criticism or blame | come in for something |
| come out with | say something unexpectedly | come out with something |
| come up against | encounter difficulty or opposition | come up against somebody or something |
| come up with | think of or produce something | come up with something |
How Phrasal Verbs With “Come” Work
Phrasal verbs and related multi-word expressions with come follow several patterns. Most are not separable.
Intransitive Patterns
An intransitive expression does not take a direct object.
The problem came about gradually.
The box came apart in my hands.
A new opportunity came up.
Information about time, place, or manner may follow, but it is not a direct object:
A new opportunity came up during the meeting.
Complements After the Complete Expression
Many expressions require a noun, pronoun, or -ing form after the complete verb pattern.
Sophie came across an unfamiliar term.
Sophie came across it while reading.
The company came under intense pressure.
The complement does not divide the expression:
Incorrect: Sophie came an unfamiliar term across.
Correct: Sophie came across an unfamiliar term.
Extended Patterns
Three-word patterns such as come down with and come up with remain together before their complements.
James came down with a fever.
Olivia came up with an alternative.
Some two-word expressions gain an additional preposition for a particular meaning:
come around to an idea
come back to a subject
come forward with information
The complete pattern should be learned with the intended meaning.
Common Phrasal Verbs With Come
1. Come About
Pattern: come about
Meaning: Happen or begin to happen.
Nobody knew how the misunderstanding had come about.
The change came about after several months of discussion.
This expression is intransitive. It does not take a direct object.
Incorrect: The new manager came about the change.
Correct: The change came about after the new manager arrived.
2. Come Across
Pattern: come across somebody or something; come across as something
Meaning 1: Find or Meet by Chance
Emma came across an old photograph while clearing a drawer.
Daniel came across a former colleague at the station.
The noun or pronoun follows the complete expression:
Emma came across it unexpectedly.
Meaning 2: Give a Particular Impression
Use come across as to describe how someone or something appears to other people.
Michael came across as confident during the interview.
The message came across as unnecessarily harsh.
This meaning describes an impression, which may differ from the person’s intention.
3. Come Along
Pattern: come along; come along with somebody
Meaning 1: Arrive or Appear
A suitable job eventually came along.
Meaning 2: Accompany Someone
Hannah asked whether her sister could come along.
You may come along with us if you are ready.
Meaning 3: Make Progress
The renovation is coming along well.
This meaning commonly appears in questions about progress:
How is your new project coming along?
4. Come Apart
Pattern: come apart
Meaning: Separate into pieces or lose its structure.
The old notebook came apart when Jack opened it.
One of the chair legs is beginning to come apart.
The expression describes something separating without naming a direct agent.
Compare:
The cover came apart.
Jack took the cover apart.
The first describes what happened to the cover. The second identifies the person who separated it.
5. Come Around
Pattern: come around; come around to something
In British English, come round is also common.
Meaning 1: Visit Someone’s Home
Sophie came around after work for a cup of tea.
Meaning 2: Regain Consciousness
Thomas felt dizzy, but he came around a few minutes later.
Meaning 3: Change Your Opinion
The committee eventually came around to Emma’s proposal.
The full pattern is:
come around to something
come around to doing something
Daniel gradually came around to accepting the new arrangement.
Meaning 4: Happen Again at a Regular Time
The holiday season seems to come around quickly every year.
6. Come Back
Pattern: come back; come back to somebody or something
Meaning 1: Return
Olivia came back from lunch at two o’clock.
Meaning 2: Become Popular or Fashionable Again
Wide-leg trousers have come back in recent years.
Meaning 3: Return to Your Memory
The name came back to me later that evening.
Meaning 4: Return to a Subject
We will come back to that question after reviewing the figures.
Use come back to somebody when contacting a person again after checking or considering something:
Let me confirm the date and come back to you tomorrow.
7. Come Between
Pattern: come between people
Meaning: Damage, interrupt, or create distance in a relationship.
Hannah refused to let the disagreement come between her and Sophie.
Work pressures had begun to come between the two friends.
The expression commonly refers to something affecting a relationship between two people or groups.
8. Come By
Pattern: come by something
Meaning 1: Obtain Something
Reliable information was difficult to come by.
James did not explain how he had come by the document.
This expression often suggests that something is difficult to obtain.
Meaning 2: Visit Briefly
In American English, come by may also mean visit someone or a place.
Daniel said he would come by after work.
The visiting meaning is normally intransitive unless a place is stated separately.
9. Come Down
Pattern: come down
Meaning 1: Decrease
The price of the course has come down since last year.
Interest rates may come down gradually.
Meaning 2: Fall to the Ground
Several branches came down during the storm.
Meaning 3: Be Removed
The decorations will come down after the celebration.
Meaning 4: Fall Heavily
The rain was coming down so heavily that we could not see the road.
The intended meaning depends on the subject and surrounding context.
10. Come Forward
Pattern: come forward; come forward with something
Meaning: Offer information, assistance, or evidence.
Two witnesses came forward after the public appeal.
A local business came forward with financial support.
Use with when naming the information, evidence, or assistance being offered:
She came forward with new evidence.
11. Come From
Pattern: come from somewhere or something; come from doing something
Meaning 1: Originate in a Place
Emma comes from a small town near Bristol.
Meaning 2: Have a Particular Source
The quotation comes from an eighteenth-century novel.
Meaning 3: Result From a Cause
The confusion came from using two different schedules.
The place, source, or cause follows from.
12. Come In
Pattern: come in
Meaning 1: Enter
“Come in,” Daniel said when he heard the knock.
Meaning 2: Arrive or Be Received
Several applications came in before the deadline.
The first election results began to come in shortly after ten.
Meaning 3: Finish in a Particular Position
Olivia came in second in the regional competition.
Meaning 4: Become Fashionable or Available
This style came in during the late 1990s.
The jacket also comes in three other sizes.
The last example means that the product is available in several sizes.
13. Come Into
Pattern: come into something
Meaning: Inherit money, property, or another valuable possession.
James came into some money after his grandfather died.
Sophie unexpectedly came into possession of the original documents.
This meaning involves receiving something, often through inheritance or a legal transfer.
14. Come Off
Pattern: come off; come off as something
Meaning 1: Become Detached
The handle came off when Michael opened the cupboard.
Meaning 2: Happen Successfully
The outdoor event came off better than the organisers had expected.
Meaning 3: Succeed
The risky strategy did not come off.
Meaning 4: Create a Particular Impression
The joke came off as rude rather than playful.
Use come off as when describing how an action, statement, or person appears to others.
15. Come On
Pattern: come on
Meaning 1: Begin Operating
The heating comes on automatically at six.
The lights came on when the door opened.
Meaning 2: Begin or Develop
A headache came on during the afternoon.
The plants are coming on well.
The second example means that the plants are developing successfully.
Meaning 3: Encourage Someone
“Come on, Emma. You are nearly finished.”
Meaning 4: Express Disbelief or Impatience
“Come on! That explanation does not make sense.”
Tone and context distinguish encouragement from impatience.
16. Come Out
Pattern: come out
Meaning 1: Be Published or Released
The revised edition comes out in September.
The band’s new album came out last week.
Meaning 2: Become Known
The full story came out during the investigation.
Meaning 3: Become Visible
The stars came out after sunset.
Meaning 4: Be Removed During Washing
The stain did not come out completely.
Meaning 5: Produce a Particular Result
The photograph came out darker than expected.
Meaning 6: Publicly Share an Aspect of Your Identity
Come out may refer to openly sharing a previously private sexual orientation or gender identity.
He came out to his family when he felt ready.
The person may be followed by to when naming who received the information.
17. Come Over
Pattern: come over; come over somebody
Meaning 1: Visit Someone
Lucy came over for dinner on Saturday.
Meaning 2: Be Suddenly Affected by a Feeling or Sensation
A sudden feeling of calm came over Hannah.
I do not know what came over me.
The second pattern places the affected person after over.
18. Come Through
Pattern: come through; come through something
Meaning 1: Be Received
Use this meaning for information, documents, messages, or official results.
The confirmation email has not come through yet.
Meaning 2: Become Noticeable
Daniel’s enthusiasm came through in his presentation.
Meaning 3: Survive a Difficult Experience
The patient came through the operation safely.
The business faced a difficult year but came through.
Meaning 4: Provide What Is Needed or Promised
Sophie came through when the team needed additional help.
This meaning suggests that someone acted successfully or reliably at an important moment.
19. Come To
Pattern: come to; come to something
Meaning 1: Regain Consciousness
James fainted but came to a few seconds later.
Meaning 2: Reach a Total
The final bill came to eighty-five pounds.
Meaning 3: Reach a Particular Result or Decision
After a long discussion, the committee came to an agreement.
In the third meaning, come to forms part of a wider combination such as:
- come to an agreement
- come to a decision
- come to a conclusion
- come to an understanding
20. Come Under
Pattern: come under something
Meaning: Become subject to criticism, pressure, attack, control, or examination.
The organisation came under criticism for the delay.
The bridge came under close inspection after the storm.
The region came under the control of a new authority.
The noun following under identifies the condition or influence affecting the subject.
21. Come Up
Pattern: come up
Meaning 1: Arise or Be Mentioned
The question of funding came up during the meeting.
Meaning 2: Happen Unexpectedly
Something urgent has come up, so Michael cannot attend.
Meaning 3: Approach in Time
The final examination is coming up next month.
Meaning 4: Become Available
A suitable position came up at the university.
The expression is normally intransitive. The thing that arises, approaches, or becomes available is the subject.
Three-Word and Extended Patterns With Come
22. Come Down To
Pattern: come down to something or doing something
Meaning: Depend on or be determined by one essential factor.
The final choice comes down to cost.
Success often comes down to preparing carefully.
This expression identifies the central issue after other details have been considered.
23. Come Down With
Pattern: come down with something
Meaning: Begin suffering from an illness, usually one that is not extremely serious.
Emma came down with a cold before the conference.
Several students have come down with the same stomach bug.
The illness follows the complete expression.
24. Come In For
Pattern: come in for something
Meaning: Receive criticism, blame, or another strong reaction.
The company came in for heavy criticism after announcing the changes.
The decision came in for considerable opposition.
This expression is especially common when the reaction is negative.
25. Come Out With
Pattern: come out with something
Meaning: Say something suddenly or unexpectedly, especially something surprising, unusual, or embarrassing.
Thomas came out with a strange excuse for missing the meeting.
Sophie sometimes comes out with the funniest comments.
Do not confuse this expression with come out, which may mean be released or become known.
26. Come Up Against
Pattern: come up against somebody or something
Meaning: Encounter a difficulty, restriction, or opponent.
The project came up against several legal obstacles.
Olivia came up against a much more experienced player in the final.
The obstacle or opponent follows the complete expression.
27. Come Up With
Pattern: come up with something
Meaning: Think of, produce, or provide an idea, plan, solution, explanation, or required amount.
Daniel came up with a practical solution.
The team must come up with a new name before Friday.
Hannah managed to come up with the deposit in time.
The object follows the complete three-word pattern:
Incorrect: Hannah came the deposit up with.
Correct: Hannah came up with the deposit.
Commonly Confused Phrasal Verbs With Come
Come Across vs. Come By
Use come across something when finding it unexpectedly:
James came across the letter in an old folder.
Use come by something when obtaining it, often with some difficulty:
Original copies are difficult to come by.
Both expressions may involve finding something, but come across emphasises chance, while come by emphasises obtaining or acquiring it.
Come Along vs. Come On
Use come along when someone accompanies you, something arrives, or work progresses:
Lucy came along with us.
The repairs are coming along well.
Use come on when a device starts operating, a condition begins, or someone is being encouraged:
The heating came on.
Come on, you are almost there.
Come Around vs. Come Over
Use come around when someone visits, regains consciousness, or changes an opinion:
Michael eventually came around to our suggestion.
Use come over when someone visits or is suddenly affected by a feeling:
Michael came over for lunch.
A sense of relief came over him.
The visiting meanings overlap, although regional preferences may differ.
Come Down vs. Come Down To
Use come down when something decreases, falls, or is removed:
The price has come down.
Use come down to something when identifying the essential factor:
The decision comes down to timing.
The preposition to creates a separate meaning and introduces the deciding factor.
Come Out vs. Come Out With
Use come out when something is released, becomes known, appears, or is removed:
The report comes out tomorrow.
Use come out with something when someone says something unexpectedly:
Daniel came out with an unusual suggestion.
Come Through vs. Come Down With
Use come through when information arrives, a quality becomes noticeable, or someone survives or succeeds:
The results have come through.
Use come down with something when someone begins to suffer from an illness:
Sophie came down with the flu.
Come Up vs. Come Up With
Use come up when a topic, problem, opportunity, or event arises:
A new issue came up.
Use come up with something when someone produces an idea, answer, or resource:
Hannah came up with an answer.
In the first pattern, the issue is the subject. In the second, a person or group produces something.
Forms of Phrasal Verbs With Come
The verb come is irregular.
| Verb form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form | come across |
| Third-person singular | comes across |
| Simple past | came across |
| Past participle | has come across |
| Present participle | coming across |
Examples:
Emma often comes across useful research.
Emma came across an unusual example yesterday.
Emma has come across the expression before.
Emma is coming across more examples as she reads.
Common Verb-Form Errors
Incorrect: Daniel comed up with a solution.
Correct: Daniel came up with a solution.
Incorrect: Olivia has came across the document.
Correct: Olivia has come across the document.
Incorrect: The truth is comming out.
Correct: The truth is coming out.
The particle or preposition remains unchanged:
- come up with
- comes up with
- came up with
- has come up with
- coming up with
Related Expressions With Come That Are Not Counted
Several common expressions contain come but are better learned as fixed constructions or idioms.
| Expression | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| when it comes to something | when considering a particular subject | fixed construction |
| come to light | become known or discovered | idiom |
| come into effect | begin to apply or operate | fixed expression |
| come to terms with something | gradually accept a difficult reality | idiom |
| come what may | whatever happens | fixed expression |
| how come? | why? | informal question form |
These expressions are useful, but they are not included as separate core phrasal verbs in this list.
Final Point
Phrasal verbs with come become easier to understand when you record the complete pattern:
- come about
- come across something
- come around to something
- come through something
- come down with something
- come up against something
- come up with something
The complete structure shows whether the expression takes a complement, where that complement belongs, and whether an additional preposition is required.
FAQs About Phrasal Verbs With Come
What are some common phrasal verbs with “come”?
Common examples include come about, come across, come along, come apart, come around, come back, come by, come down, come in, come off, come on, come out, come over, come through, come up, and come up with.
Are phrasal verbs with “come” separable?
Most common phrasal verbs with come are not separable. Some are intransitive, such as come about and come apart. Others keep their complements after the complete expression, such as come across something and come up with something.
What does “come across” mean?
Come across somebody or something means find or meet that person or thing by chance. Come across as something means create a particular impression. For example, someone may come across as confident.
What is the difference between “come around” and “come over”?
Both may mean visit someone. Come around may also mean regain consciousness or change an opinion. Come over may describe a feeling that suddenly affects someone, as in a sense of calm came over her.
What does “come up with” mean?
Come up with something means think of, produce, or provide an idea, plan, answer, solution, or resource. The object follows the full expression: come up with a solution or come up with it.
What is the difference between “come out” and “come out with”?
Come out may mean be released, become known, appear, or be removed. Come out with something means say something unexpectedly, especially something surprising or unusual.
What does “come through” mean?
Come through may mean that information or a document arrives, an emotion becomes noticeable, someone survives a difficult experience, or a person provides help when it is needed.
What is the past tense of “come”?
The simple past of come is came. Its past participle is come. For example: She came across the article yesterday and she has come across similar articles before.
Is “come down with” a three-word phrasal verb?
Yes. Come down with something is commonly taught as a three-word phrasal verb. It means begin suffering from an illness, as in James came down with a cold.
The First English Grade Editorial Team creates simple English grammar, vocabulary, and language guides for students, beginners, and everyday learners.