Winter sale: +9 MONTHS FREE
Phrasal verbs with "come" are incredibly common in English, but their meanings often change depending on the context. To truly master them, it's crucial to see them in action.
This guide provides detailed definitions, synonyms, and expanded excerpts from classic public domain books, helping you understand exactly how these phrasal verbs are used in real literature.
Comprehensive Table of "Come" Phrasal Verbs
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick reference table summarizing the meanings and synonyms for all 16 key phrasal verbs with "come".
Detailed Exploration of Each Phrasal Verb
1. Come About
🔹 To happen or occur
📖 Example from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville:
"How did such a thing come about?" murmured Starbuck, his voice barely audible over the crashing waves. "Aye, how indeed!" Ahab answered. "The wind had shifted, the waves had risen, and before we knew it, the Pequod was caught in the storm’s wrath. It was as if fate itself had determined that this encounter must come about, whether we willed it or not."
🔹 To change direction (sailing)
📖 Example from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson:
"The wind was strong, and the ship was losing its course. 'Come about, lads!' the captain shouted. With practiced ease, the sailors turned the ship sharply against the wind, sending a spray of salt water over the deck as we maneuvered toward calmer waters."
2. Come Across
🔹 To find by chance
📖 Example from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens:
"As I wandered through the old bookshop, my fingers brushing against the dusty spines, I suddenly came across a small, tattered volume with my name written inside. My heart leaped — how had this book, lost for so many years, come across my path once again?"
🔹 To give a certain impression
📖 Example from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle:
"The man was well-dressed, but something about him did not sit right. He came across as sincere, yet his eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. Holmes watched him intently, reading the deception beneath his polished words."
3. Come Along
🔹 To accompany someone
📖 Example from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens:
"‘Come along, boy,’ the stranger said, his grip firm but not unkind. ‘I shall see you safely home.’ I hesitated for a moment, but his voice carried a warmth that made me follow him into the night."
🔹 To make progress
📖 Example from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:
"‘Your painting has really come along, Amy,’ said Marmee, admiring the delicate strokes. ‘You’ve worked so hard, and it shows in every brushstroke.’ Amy blushed, pleased that her progress had been noticed."
4. Come Apart
🔹 To break into pieces
📖 Example from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde:
"The frame was delicate, its gilded edges brittle with age, and as I lifted the painting, it came apart in my hands. A gasp escaped my lips—for within the ruined frame was another portrait, one I had never seen before, yet one which bore a striking resemblance to me."
5. Come Around
🔹 To regain consciousness
📖 Example from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë:
"She lay still for what seemed an eternity before she came around, her breath shallow, her eyes fluttering open. ‘What happened?’ she murmured, her voice weak. ‘You fainted, miss,’ the housekeeper whispered. ‘But I knew you would come around soon enough.’"
🔹 To change one’s opinion
📖 Example from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen:
"At first, he refused to listen, but over time, he came around to her way of thinking. ‘Perhaps I have been too hasty in my judgment,’ he admitted, at last."
6. Come Back
🔹 To return
📖 Example from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain:
"‘Tom, you said you’d come back before sundown!’ Aunt Polly scolded, hands on her hips. Tom grinned, his face smeared with dirt. ‘I did, Aunt Polly—just not today’s sundown!’"
🔹 To be remembered again
📖 Example from Dracula by Bram Stoker:
"The memory came back to him suddenly, filling him with terror. It had been buried in the recesses of his mind, but now it surfaced with dreadful clarity."
7. Come By
🔹 To acquire
📖 Example from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas:
"‘It is rare to come by such a gem, monsieur,’ the jeweler whispered, his fingers trembling as he held the brooch up to the candlelight. ‘The emerald alone is worth a king’s ransom.’"
🔹 To visit briefly
📖 Example from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
"‘She said she might come by later to check on us,’ Jem said. ‘But I think she just wanted an excuse to see Atticus again.’"
8. Come Down
🔹 To descend
📖 Example from The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle:
"The mist had begun to come down thick upon the moor, swallowing the landscape whole. ‘We must hurry,’ Holmes murmured, his eyes scanning the darkening path ahead."
🔹 To decrease in value
📖 Example from The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck:
"‘Prices have come down since the harvest,’ the farmer said, shaking his head. ‘Not that it helps us much when we’ve nothing left to sell.’"
9. Come From
🔹 To originate from a place
📖 Example from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling:
"‘Where does he come from?’ one of the wolves asked. ‘From the village,’ another answered. ‘But he is no ordinary man’s cub.’"
10. Come In
🔹 To enter a place
📖 Example from Dracula by Bram Stoker:
"‘Come in, my friend, come in,’ the Count said, extending his pale hand toward me. His voice was soft, almost inviting, yet I hesitated at the threshold. Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine, but I could not refuse."
🔹 To become involved in something
📖 Example from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:
"‘We need someone to come in and help with the arrangements,’ the banker said. ‘If we do not act now, the situation will spiral out of control.’"
11. Come Off
🔹 To become detached
📖 Example from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens:
"The button on Oliver’s coat had come off in the scuffle, and as he picked it up from the floor, he realized it was the only thing left of his old life."
🔹 To succeed or happen as planned
📖 Example from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:
"Mr. Wickham’s scheme had not come off as he had hoped. The grand announcement he had prepared was met with nothing but polite nods. Elizabeth, however, merely smiled. ‘Did you truly expect another outcome?’ she asked."
12. Come On
🔹 To start suddenly
📖 Example from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson:
"The fever came on swiftly, leaving Dr. Jekyll pale and shivering. He clenched his fists, willing himself to remain in control, but the transformation had already begun."
🔹 To encourage someone
📖 Example from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain:
"‘Come on, Huck! We gotta go before someone sees us!’ Tom whispered urgently. My heart was pounding, but I knew he was right. If we stayed here any longer, we'd be in for a heap of trouble."
13. Come Out
🔹 To be revealed or become known
📖 Example from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde:
"‘It will all come out eventually,’ Basil said, shaking his head. ‘You cannot hide from the truth forever, Dorian. No matter how much you wish it, secrets have a way of revealing themselves.’"
🔹 To be published or made available
📖 Example from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: "‘Her new book will come out next spring,’ Jo announced proudly, clutching the freshly written pages to her chest."
14. Come Over
🔹 To visit someone’s home
📖 Example from Emma by Jane Austen:
"‘Why don’t you come over for tea?’ Emma asked, her voice warm with invitation. ‘It has been too long since we last spoke properly.’"
🔹 To suddenly be affected by an emotion
📖 Example from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë:
"A strange feeling came over Catherine as she stepped into the old house. It was as if the walls themselves whispered memories of days long gone, their echoes stirring something deep within her."
15. Come Through
🔹 To survive a difficult situation
📖 Example from The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane:
"He had doubted himself, doubted whether he would come through the battle unscathed. But as the smoke cleared and the enemy withdrew, he realized he had faced his fear and endured."
🔹 To fulfill a promise or expectation
📖 Example from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery:
"‘You really came through for me, Diana,’ Anne said with a grateful smile. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you.’"
16. Come Up
🔹 To be mentioned in conversation
📖 Example from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
"‘Your name came up at dinner last night,’ Daisy said with a smile. Gatsby’s expression didn’t change, but I could tell he was hanging onto every word. ‘And what did they say?’ he asked, trying to sound indifferent."
🔹 To arise unexpectedly
📖 Example from Dracula by Bram Stoker:
"‘Something urgent has come up,’ Van Helsing said, his voice filled with tension. ‘We must act quickly before it is too late.’"
Final Challenge: Can You Use These Phrasal Verbs in a Short Story?
Now that we’ve fully explored all 16 essential phrasal verbs with "come", it's time to put them into action!
