Phrasal verbs with come
Come is about moving towards someone or something, so many of its phrasal verbs are about arriving or appearing: come back, come in, come across an old photo, come up in a meeting.
Phrasal verbs with come by level
- A1–A26come from, come back, come in
- B19come in, come up with, come out
- B221come from, come back, come in
- C1–C213come over, come on, come around
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
A1–A2The first ones to learn 6 meanings
- come fromcome from somethingA1
be born in, or live in, a place
Where do you come from?
- come fromcome from somebody or somethingA1
be made in, or start in, a place or a thing
Most of our tea comes from India.
- come backcome backA2
return to the place where you are or the speaker is
When are you coming back from London?
- come income inA2
enter a room or building, towards the speaker
The door’s open. Come in!
- come downcome downA2
move down to a lower place, towards the speaker
Come down! Dinner’s ready.
- come outcome outA2
leave a room, a building or a hiding place
She came out of the shop with a big bag.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 9 meanings
- come income inB1
arrive, like a train, news or money
What time does your flight come in?
- come up withcome up with somethingB1
think of an idea, a plan or an answer
She came up with a great name for the shop.
- come outcome outB1
become available to buy, watch or read, like a book or film
Her new book comes out in June.
- come outcome outB1
appear in the sky, for the sun, moon or stars
The sun came out after the rain.
- come overcome overB1
visit someone at their home
Do you want to come over tonight?
- come oncome onB1
tell someone to hurry or to try harder
Come on, we’re going to miss the bus!
- come aroundcome aroundB1
visit someone at their home
Do you want to come around for dinner?
- come alongcome alongB1
go somewhere with someone
We’re going to the beach. Do you want to come along?
- come offcome off somethingB1
become separated from the thing it was fixed to
A button came off my coat.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 21 meanings
- come fromcome from somethingB2
be caused by something
His back pain comes from sitting all day.
- come backcome backB2
become popular or fashionable again
Wide jeans have come back into fashion.
- come backcome backB2
be remembered again
Her name will come back to me in a minute.
- come income inB2
start to be used, like a law or a fashion
The new law comes in next year.
- come income inB2
finish a race in a certain place
She came in second in the race.
- come downcome downB2
become lower, like a price or a temperature
House prices have come down a little.
- come downcome downB2
fall to the ground
The old tree came down in the storm.
- come up withcome up with somethingB2
find money or something else that is needed
We have to come up with £500 by Monday.
- come outcome outB2
become known, like results or a secret
The exam results come out on Thursday.
- come oncome onB2
say you don’t believe or agree with what someone said
Oh, come on! That’s not true.
- come oncome onB2
start slowly, for an illness or a pain
I can feel a cold coming on.
- come oncome onB2
improve or make progress
Your English is really coming on!
- come aroundcome aroundB2
wake up again after fainting or an operation
He fainted but came around after a minute.
- come aroundcome aroundB2
happen again, like a regular event
Christmas seems to come around faster every year.
- come alongcome alongB2
arrive or appear, often by chance
Take the first good job that comes along.
- come offcome off somebody or somethingB2
fall from a bike, a horse or a board
She came off her bike on the ice.
- come offcome offB2
seem to be a certain way to other people
He comes off as a bit rude in emails.
- come acrosscome across somethingB2
find or meet something or someone by chance
I came across some old photos in a box.
- come upcome upB2
be mentioned or talked about
Your name came up at the meeting.
- come upcome upB2
be going to happen soon
My birthday is coming up next week.
- come upcome upB2
walk towards someone to talk to them
A little girl came up to me and asked my name.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 13 meanings
- come overcome overC1
travel to a place, often from another country
My grandparents came over from Ireland in 1960.
- come overcome over somebodyC1
suddenly affect someone, like a strange feeling
I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry.
- come oncome onC1
start working, for a light or a machine
The heating comes on at six.
- come aroundcome aroundC2
change your opinion and start to agree
She didn’t like the idea, but she’ll come around.
- come alongcome alongC2
develop or make progress
How’s your essay coming along?
- come offcome offC1
happen as planned, or be successful
The plan didn’t come off.
- come acrosscome acrossC1
seem to be a certain kind of person
He comes across as a bit shy at first.
- come upcome upC1
happen suddenly, often a problem or a chance
Sorry, something’s come up. I can’t make it.
- come apartcome apartC2
break into pieces
The old book came apart in my hands.
- come apartcome apartC1
fail badly, for a plan, a team or a life
Their plans came apart at the last minute.
- come throughcome throughC2
arrive or be officially approved, like a visa or results
My visa finally came through last week.
- come throughcome through somethingC2
stay alive or safe through a dangerous or hard time
She came through the operation well.
- come throughcome throughC2
do what you promised, or help when it really matters
I knew you’d come through for me!
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use phrasal verbs with come in real conversations
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Phrasal verbs with come that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
come over or come around?
come over: visit someone at their home.
come around: visit someone at home, often casually.
come along or come on?
come along: go somewhere with someone.
come on: make progress; mostly British.
come off or come across?
come off: become separated from the thing it was fixed to.
come across: seem to be a certain kind of person.
Phrasal verbs with come: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Can you _____ and help me with the bags?
Come down: move down to a lower place, towards the speaker. More on come down
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2They _____ to London for a week.
Come over: travel to a place, often from another country. More on come over
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3The new kitchen is coming _____ nicely. (develop or make progress)
Come along: develop or make progress. More on come along
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4Which is correct? (find or meet something or someone by chance)
Come across is not separable here: the object goes after it. More on come across
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5Her new book _____ in June.
Come out: become available to buy, watch or read, like a book or film. More on come out
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6They couldn’t come up with the rent last month. What does it mean here?
Come up with: find money or something else that is needed. More on come up with
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7Do you think vinyl records will come _____? (become popular or fashionable again)
Come back: become popular or fashionable again. More on come back
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8A job _____ at the library, so I applied.
Come up: happen suddenly, often a problem or a chance. More on come up
Phrasal verbs with come: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with come are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 15 are the ones learners meet most, with 49 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with come?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: come from, come back, come in, come down, come out. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with come are separable?
None of them. The object, if there is one, always comes after the whole phrasal verb.