- Many phrasal verbs with COME have multiple meanings depending on context.
- Almost all COME phrasal verbs are inseparable, because "come" cannot take a direct object on its own.
- "Come up" describes a topic arising; "come up with" describes producing an idea or solution.
- "Come round" (British) / "come around" (American) can mean regain consciousness, visit, or change your mind.
- "Come down with" is used specifically for catching a minor illness.
The verb COME is one of the most frequent verbs in English, and it forms dozens of phrasal verbs that carry meanings very different from "come" itself. The same two words, "come across," can describe finding an old photograph by accident or the impression someone makes in a job interview.
This guide covers the essential phrasal verbs with COME, grouped by particle, with clear definitions, natural examples, and notes on usage.
1. Come Across
"Come across" has two distinct core meanings:
- Find by chance: "I came across an old photograph while cleaning the attic."
- Create an impression: "He comes across as very confident in interviews."
The first meaning is about accidental discovery of an object or piece of information. The second describes how someone or something is perceived, often followed by "as" plus an adjective or noun.
When "come across" means "to give an impression," it is almost always followed by "as": "She comes across as shy at first." Without "as," the meaning shifts back to accidental discovery.
2. Come Up / Come Up With
"Come up" and "come up with" look similar but mean quite different things:
- Come up (topic arises): "The subject of pay rises came up in the meeting."
- Come up (event approaches): "My exams are coming up next week."
- Come up with (produce an idea): "She came up with a brilliant marketing idea."
"Come up" alone is intransitive, while "come up with" is always followed by the thing that has been produced — an idea, plan, excuse, or solution.
3. Come Round / Come Around
"Come round" (British English) or "come around" (American English) has three common meanings:
- Regain consciousness: "He came round a few minutes after fainting."
- Visit informally: "Come round for dinner on Friday."
- Eventually agree: "She was against the plan at first, but she came round eventually."
4. Come Down With
"Come down with" means to become ill with a usually minor illness that develops gradually:
- "I think I'm coming down with a cold."
- "She came down with flu last week."
It is followed directly by the name of the illness and is rarely used for serious or chronic conditions.
5. Come Into
"Come into" most often means to inherit money or property:
- "She came into a small fortune when her grandmother died."
It can also mean to become relevant to a situation or discussion: "Cost has to come into the decision somewhere."
6. Come Along
"Come along" covers three related meanings:
- Accompany: "Do you want to come along to the cinema?"
- Make progress: "How is the new project coming along?"
- Appear unexpectedly: "A great opportunity came along last month."
7. More Phrasal Verbs with Come
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| come through | Survive a difficulty; for a message/result to arrive; help when needed | "The exam results came through this morning." |
| come off | Become detached; succeed (of a plan); stop taking medication | "The surprise party came off without a hitch." |
| come out | Be published; become known; reveal sexual orientation; turn out a certain way | "Her new novel comes out in September." |
| come over | Visit informally; suddenly feel a certain way | "Come over whenever you like." / "A wave of tiredness came over me." |
| come back | Return; become fashionable again | "Flared trousers are coming back into fashion." |
| come forward | Offer information or help voluntarily | "Witnesses were urged to come forward." |
| come in | Enter; be received; become relevant (of a role) | "That's where the marketing team comes in." |
8. Separability of Come Phrasal Verbs
Unlike phrasal verbs such as "break down" or "turn off," COME phrasal verbs are almost always inseparable, because "come" itself is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
| Type | Phrasal verbs | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Inseparable | come across, come up with, come into, come down with | Object always follows the full phrasal verb: come up with an idea (never come an idea up with). |
| No object | come round, come along, come out (some senses) | These are often used with no object at all: "He came round eventually." |
Practise Phrasal Verbs with Come
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Start Practising →Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'come across' mean in English?
'Come across' has two main meanings: (1) To find something by chance — 'I came across an old photograph while cleaning the attic.' (2) To create a particular impression — 'He comes across as very confident in interviews.' The first meaning is about discovery; the second is about how someone or something is perceived by others.
What is the difference between 'come up' and 'come up with'?
'Come up' means for a topic or issue to arise, or for an event to approach: 'The subject of pay rises came up in the meeting.' 'Come up with' means to produce an idea, plan, or solution: 'She came up with a brilliant marketing idea.' The key difference is that 'come up' is intransitive, while 'come up with' always takes an object — the thing you produce.
What does 'come round' mean?
'Come round' (British English; 'come around' in American English) has several meanings: (1) To regain consciousness — 'He came round a few minutes after fainting.' (2) To visit someone informally — 'Come round for dinner on Friday.' (3) To eventually agree with an idea after initially resisting it — 'She was against the plan at first, but she came round eventually.'
What does 'come down with' mean?
'Come down with' means to become ill with a usually minor illness, especially one that develops gradually: 'I think I'm coming down with a cold.' / 'She came down with flu last week.' It is always followed directly by the illness and is not normally used for serious or long-term conditions.
What does 'come into' mean?
'Come into' most commonly means to inherit money or property: 'She came into a small fortune when her grandmother died.' It can also mean to become relevant or enter into a situation: 'Cost has to come into the decision somewhere.' Both uses describe something entering someone's possession or a discussion.
What does 'come along' mean?
'Come along' means (1) to accompany someone — 'Do you want to come along to the cinema?' (2) To make progress — 'How is the new project coming along?' (3) To appear or arise, often unexpectedly — 'A great opportunity came along last month.' Context makes clear which meaning is intended.
What does 'come through' mean?
'Come through' means (1) to survive a difficult experience — 'They came through the crisis stronger than before.' (2) For a message, result, or document to arrive — 'The exam results came through this morning.' (3) To succeed in providing help when needed — 'He always comes through for his friends.'
What does 'come off' mean in informal English?
'Come off' means (1) to become detached — 'A button came off my shirt.' (2) To succeed, especially describing a plan or event — 'The surprise party came off without a hitch.' (3) To stop taking a medication or drug — 'She came off her medication under the doctor's supervision.'
Which phrasal verbs with come are separable?
Almost all phrasal verbs with COME are inseparable, because 'come' is an intransitive verb — it never takes a direct object itself. Phrases like 'come across', 'come up with', and 'come into' are always followed directly by the noun or phrase: 'come up with an idea', never 'come an idea up with'.
How do I use 'come out' correctly?
'Come out' means (1) to be published or released — 'Her new novel comes out in September.' (2) To become known — 'The truth about the scandal finally came out.' (3) To openly reveal one's sexual orientation — 'He came out to his family last year.' (4) To turn out a particular way — 'The photos came out really well.'