Come across meaning
Come across means to find or meet something or someone by chance. It can also mean to seem to be a certain kind of person.
come across something
come across · came · come · coming
I came across some old photos in a box.
Come across meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary.
-
1
Find or meet something or someone by chance
come across something
- I came across some old photos in a box.
- Have you ever come across this word before?
- We came across a lovely café by the river.
-
2
Seem to be a certain kind of person
come across
- He comes across as a bit shy at first.
- How did I come across in the interview?
- She doesn’t come across as rude, just quiet.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use come across in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is come across separable?
Come across is not separable when it means find: come across a photo, come across it. When it means seem, add as or an adverb: come across as shy, come across well.
Come across is for things you find without looking. If you look for something and find it, just say find: I found my keys.
Verb tenses for come across
| Present | I come across · she comes across |
|---|---|
| Past | came across |
| Present perfect | have come across |
| -ing form | coming across |
Common mistakes with come across
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I came it across in a shop.
Right: I came across it in a shop.
Come across is not separable. The pronoun goes after across.
Wrong: He comes across like very friendly.
Right: He comes across as very friendly.
Use as, not like, before an adjective.
Wrong: I came across with an old friend in town.
Right: I ran into an old friend in town.
No with. For people, run into or bump into is more natural.
Synonyms and opposites of come across
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- run intomeet someone by chance
- bump intomeet someone you know by chance
- stumble onfind something by chance; informal
Opposite
- look fortry to find something on purpose
- search forlook carefully for something
Come across quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
-
1While cleaning, I ___ my old school reports.
Come across means find by chance.
-
2Choose the right sentence.
Use come across as plus an adjective.
-
3I wasn’t looking for it, but I ___ a great recipe online.
You come across things you were not looking for.
More phrasal verbs with come
All phrasal verbs with come, by level, with an exercise
15 phrasal verbs start with come. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- come fromA1be born in, or live in, a place
- come backA2return to the place where you are or the speaker is
- come inA2enter a room or building, towards the speaker
- come downA2move down to a lower place, towards the speaker
- come up withB1think of an idea, a plan or an answer
- come outB1become available to buy, watch or read, like a book or film
- come overB1visit someone at their home
- come onB1tell someone to hurry or to try harder
- come aroundB1visit someone at their home
- come alongB1go somewhere with someone
- come offB1become separated from the thing it was fixed to
- come upB2be mentioned or talked about
- come apartC2break into pieces
- come throughC2arrive or be officially approved, like a visa or results
Come across FAQ
Questions people ask about come across.
What is the difference between come across and run into?
Both mean meet by chance. Run into is more usual for people. Come across is more usual for things you find.
What does come across well mean?
It means make a good impression: She came across well in the interview, calm and clear.
Is come across formal?
It is neutral and fine in speech and writing. In formal writing, encounter is also possible.
Use come across in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.