Come apart meaning
Come apart means to break into pieces. It can also mean to fail badly, for a plan, a team or a life.
come apart
come apart · came · come · coming
The old book came apart in my hands.
Come apart meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Break into pieces
come apart
- The old book came apart in my hands.
- My cheap shoes came apart after a week.
- Be careful, that chair might come apart.
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2
Fail badly, for a plan, a team or a life
come apart
- Their plans came apart at the last minute.
- The team came apart in the second half.
- When he lost his job, his life came apart.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use come apart 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 apart separable?
Come apart has no object. It happens by itself: The bag came apart.
If you separate something on purpose, say take it apart, not come apart: I took the clock apart to fix it.
Verb tenses for come apart
| Present | I come apart · she comes apart |
|---|---|
| Past | came apart |
| Present perfect | have come apart |
| -ing form | coming apart |
Common mistakes with come apart
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: The toy came in pieces after one day.
Right: The toy came apart after one day.
Come apart means break. Come in pieces means it was sold in parts.
Wrong: The chair was come apart.
Right: The chair came apart.
Come apart is not used in the passive.
Wrong: Their marriage came off after ten years.
Right: Their marriage came apart after ten years.
Come off means succeed or be removed. Come apart means break up.
Synonyms and opposites of come apart
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- fall apartbreak into pieces, often because it is old
- fall to piecesbreak completely; informal
Opposite
- put togetherjoin parts to make something
- hold togetherstay in one piece
Come apart quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The cheap umbrella ___ in the wind.
Come apart means break into pieces.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Come apart has no object and no passive.
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3Lea opened the radio and separated all the parts to fix it. What did she do?
On purpose, you take something apart.
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 acrossB2find or meet something or someone by chance
- come upB2be mentioned or talked about
- come throughC2arrive or be officially approved, like a visa or results
Come apart FAQ
Questions people ask about come apart.
What is the difference between come apart and fall apart?
They are very close. Fall apart is more common and often suggests something old or badly made. Both can be used for plans and people too.
What does come apart at the seams mean?
Literally, clothes split where they are sewn. It also means a plan or a person is failing badly: The project is coming apart at the seams.
What is the past tense of come apart?
Came apart. The past participle is come apart: The old map has come apart.
Use come apart 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.