Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of English, enriching the language with their unique combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs. The verb “come” is particularly versatile in this regard, forming numerous phrasal verbs that are essential for fluent communication. These expressions cover a wide range of meanings, from arriving at a place to handling unexpected situations.
Understanding and using “come” phrasal verbs can enhance your ability to express movement, change, and progression with clarity and precision. Below, we delve into various phrasal verbs that start with “come,” each presented with definitions and contextual examples to help you master their usage in everyday conversations and professional communication.
Phrasal Verbs with Come
1. Come Across
Meaning: Find by chance.
Example: I came across an old diary in the attic.
2. Come Apart
Meaning: Break into pieces.
Example: The old book just came apart in my hands.
3. Come Around
Meaning: Change one’s opinion.
Example: He finally came around to my point of view.
4. Come Back
Meaning: Return.
Example: She left the room and came back with a drink.
5. Come By
Meaning: Acquire.
Example: Good jobs are hard to come by these days.
6. Come Down
Meaning: Decrease or fall.
Example: Prices have come down recently.
7. Come Forward
Meaning: Offer help or information.
Example: Witnesses to the incident are asked to come forward.
8. Come In
Meaning: Enter.
Example: Please come in and make yourself at home.
9. Come Into
Meaning: Inherit.
Example: He came into a large fortune when his uncle died.
10. Come Off
Meaning: Succeed or happen.
Example: I don’t think the party will come off as planned.
11. Come On
Meaning: Start to function or operate.
Example: The lights come on at dusk.
12. Come Out
Meaning: Be published or become known.
Example: The truth finally came out during the meeting.
13. Come Over
Meaning: Visit casually.
Example: Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?
14. Come Through
Meaning: Survive a challenge or provide assistance.
Example: She came through the surgery with no complications.
15. Come Together
Meaning: Gather or unite.
Example: Everyone came together to help the community after the flood.
16. Come Under
Meaning: Become subject to something.
Example: The area will soon come under new management.
17. Come Up
Meaning: Arise or appear.
Example: A new problem has come up at work.
18. Come Upon
Meaning: Encounter or find by chance.
Example: She came upon a quaint little shop in the village.
19. Come Along
Meaning: Accompany or progress.
Example: How is your new project coming along?
20. Come Around to
Meaning: Gradually agree or accept.
Example: He finally came around to accepting the new policy.
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21. Come At
Meaning: Attack.
Example: The dog came at me aggressively.
22. Come Away
Meaning: Leave a place with a particular feeling or impression.
Example: I came away from the meeting feeling optimistic.
23. Come Down with
Meaning: Become ill with.
Example: She came down with the flu last weekend.
24. Come Into Play
Meaning: Become important or operative.
Example: Several factors come into play in making this decision.
25. Come Off It
Meaning: Stop acting or speaking foolishly.
Example: “Come off it,” she said, “you know that’s not true.”
26. Come Round
Meaning: Change one’s opinion; also, regain consciousness.
Example: He finally came round to my way of thinking.
27. Come Up Against
Meaning: Face a challenge.
Example: We’ve come up against some tough competition.
28. Come Up to
Meaning: Reach a standard or expectation.
Example: The film didn’t come up to my expectations.
29. Come Up With
Meaning: Suggest or think of an idea or plan.
Example: We need to come up with a solution quickly.
30. Come Clean
Meaning: Confess.
Example: He decided to come clean about his past.
31. Come Apart at the Seams
Meaning: Fall apart; fail completely.
Example: Their marriage is coming apart at the seams.
32. Come Down Hard On
Meaning: Criticize or punish severely.
Example: The judge came down hard on the repeat offenders.
33. Come Down On
Meaning: Express a harsh opinion.
Example: His parents came down on him after finding out about his grades.
34. Come Out With
Meaning: Say something suddenly and unexpectedly.
Example: He came out with a remark that shocked everyone.
35. Come Through With
Meaning: Provide something needed.
Example: We are counting on him to come through with the funds.
36. Come To Terms With
Meaning: Accept a difficult reality.
Example: She is still coming to terms with her illness.
37. Come Up Short
Meaning: Fail to reach a target or standard.
Example: Despite their efforts, they came up short of their quarterly targets.
38. Come To
Meaning: Regain consciousness.
Example: He came to a few minutes after fainting.
39. Come Between
Meaning: Interfere or cause conflict.
Example: Nothing will come between me and my ambitions.
40. Come By Honestly
Meaning: Inherit traits from parents.
Example: He comes by his musical talent honestly, both parents are musicians.
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