English Profile

come · verb I

/kʌm/Full view

come (MOVE TO SPEAKER)

A1 to move or travel towards a person who is speaking or the place that they are speaking about

Dictionary examples:

Come here!

She's coming this afternoon.

Look out - there's a car coming!

Can you come to my party?

If you're ever in Oxford, come and visit us.

I've come straight from the airport.

We have friends coming to stay this weekend.

The door opened and a nurse came into the room.

John will come and pick you up at 4 o'clock.

Learner example:

I can come to dinner tomorrow at 7 o'clock. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Polish)

come (GO WITH SOMEONE)

A1 to go somewhere with the person who is speaking

Dictionary examples:

Come with me.

Come for a walk with us.

Would you like to come to the cinema with Sarah and me?

Learner example:

Can you come with me [to] my Friend's house [to] play game[s] tomorrow? (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Pashto)

come (ARRIVE)

A1 to arrive somewhere

Dictionary examples:

Has she come yet?

When does the post come?

Hasn't his train come in yet?

Learner example:

When I came [to] Dorchester, th[e] town was very pretty. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Russian)

come (BE AVAILABLE)

A2 to be available to buy in a particular colour, size, etc.

Dictionary examples:

Do these trousers come in any other colour?

This cuddly baby doll comes with her own blanket and bottle.

Learner example:

It's the latest digitalized model that comes with a remote control. (Key English Test; A2; Arabic)

come after/first/last, etc.

B1 to have or achieve a particular position in a race, competition, list, etc.

Dictionary examples:

She came second in the 100m race.

Z comes after Y in the alphabet.

Which king came after Edward?

April comes before May.

come true

B1 If a dream or hope comes true, it really happens.

Dictionary examples:

I'd always dreamt of owning my own house, but I never thought it would come true.

After all the problems I'd had, Oliver's birth was a dream come true.

Learner example:

I had been dreaming of going to London since I started learning English, and now that my dream had come true, I was overhelmed by joy and feeling very lucky. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

come (HAPPEN)

B2 to happen

Dictionary examples:

Spring has come early.

The worst problems are still/yet to come.

The announcement came at a bad time.

Learner example:

But worse was yet to come! (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

come easily/easy/naturally

C1 to be very easy for someone

Dictionary example:

Singing came naturally to Louise.

Learner example:

After a while, it came naturally: I could use words I had never seen written, just because I had picked them up in a conversation or watching a video programme. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

come first

C1 to be the most important person or thing

Dictionary example:

Her career always comes first.

Learner example:

They do not take the time to sit down and enjoy being with their family. The work comes first, and the family next. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; French)

come to mind

C1 If an idea comes to mind, you think of it.

Dictionary example:

I was thinking about who might be suitable for this job, and your name came to mind.

Learner example:

Positives did come from that crisis - more efficient engines, lighter vehicles and lead-free petrol are just some of the examples that come to mind. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Afrikaans)

come to think of it

C2 used to say that you have just thought of something

Dictionary example:

Come to think of it, I've got two batteries that you can have upstairs.

Learner example:

Come to think of it, it really is quite difficult to say. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come to do sth

C2 to start to do something or to reach a state after a period of time

Dictionary examples:

I have come to rely on acupuncture.

This place has come to be known as 'Pheasant Corner'.

Learner example:

All the things she had been believing in until then had come to mean [no]thing, as gold turns into coal. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

come apart/off, etc.

C2 to become separated or removed from something

Dictionary examples:

The book came apart in my hands.

The handle came off.

My shoelaces have come undone.

The door came open.

when it comes to sth/doing sth

C1 used to introduce a new idea that you want to say something about

Dictionary example:

When it comes to baking cakes, she's an expert.

Learner example:

But when it comes to computers, they just impose some knowledge on students, without any interaction. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Chinese)

how come

C1 used to ask why or how something has happened

Dictionary example:

How come you didn't go to the party?

Learner example:

Off the record: How come that your reporter can print such lies when knowing they are perhaps hurting certain people in this important matter? (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Danish)

come into being

C2 to start to exist

Dictionary example:

The new law comes into being next month.

Learner example:

Only with knowledge of the written word were villages able to organise themselves in larger forms of government, leading from local to regional to national levels, [and] finally leading to transnational structures as they came into being mostly during the last 100 years. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

come to light

C2 If information about something bad comes to light, it is discovered.

Dictionary example:

She knew that the fraud would eventually come to light.

Learner example:

Eventually, their "lia[is]on" comes to light and Leo blames himself for the disastrous outcome of the events throughout his life. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come under fire

C2 to be criticized

Dictionary example:

The government has come under fire for closing the hospital.

come to the/sb's rescue

C2 to help someone who is in a difficult situation

Dictionary example:

I forgot my purse but Anna came to the rescue and lent me some money.

take sth as it comes

C2 to deal with something as it happens, without planning for it

Dictionary example:

With an illness like this you just have to take every day as it comes.

Learner example:

We should, for once, put our [jea]lousy aside, start to appr[e]ciate what we have and take life as it comes. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Italian)

come to terms with sth

C2 to accept a sad situation

Dictionary example:

He still hasn't come to terms with his brother's death.

Learner example:

She had, at last, come to terms with her loss and although she still, deep in her heart, grieved for Michael she now knew that she could move on. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

come about

C2 to happen or start to happen

Dictionary example:

How did the idea for an arts festival come about?

Learner example:

Speaking of the past and its importance in our present, one cannot fail to observe that the very cumulative experience of a nation erects the foundation for our future. How does that come about? (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Russian)

come across (SEEM)

C1 to seem to be a particular type of person or thing

Dictionary examples:

He came across as shy.

Her confident manner can sometimes come across as arrogance.

All these promises just come across as a meaningless political stunt.

Learner example:

Tom comes across as a lively as well as a reliable person. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Romanian)

come across (CLEAR)

C2 If an idea or emotion comes across, it is expressed clearly and people understand it.

Dictionary example:

His bitterness comes across in his poetry.

come across sb/sth

B2 to meet someone or find something by chance

Dictionary example:

He came across some of his old love letters in his wife's drawer.

Learner example:

Luckily, I've come across an advertisement of a well-known computer trader. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

come along (GO WITH SOMEONE)

B1 to go somewhere with someone

Dictionary example:

We're going to the cinema. Do you want to come along?

Learner example:

I'm really expecting you guys to come along. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

come along (ARRIVE)

B2 to arrive or appear at a place

Dictionary example:

A taxi never comes along when you need one.

Learner example:

Luckily someone came along soon afterwards and they went off to phone for an ambulance which brought us here. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

come along (EXIST)

C2 to start to exist

Dictionary example:

I gave up climbing when my first child came along.

Learner example:

A few years went past before the second child came along, by this time the family had just moved into a new house, so the mother decided to be a h[ouse]wife and a kind of "day-mother" for the neighbours' children. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

be coming along/on

C2 to be developing or making progress

Dictionary example:

Hassan's English is coming along well.

Learner example:

To my delight she is coming along all right. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

come back

A2 to return to a place

Dictionary examples:

I'll come back and pick you up in half an hour.

We've just come back from Amsterdam.

Learner example:

I['ll be] wait[ing] for your call, when you come back. (Skills for Life (Entry 2); A2; Portuguese)

come between sb

C2 to harm the relationship between two or more people

Dictionary example:

I won't let anything come between me and my children.

Learner example:

Of course, there was the problem of religion that came between us: I was not Jewish and he was an orthodox one. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come by sth

C2 to get something, especially something that is unusual or difficult to find

Dictionary example:

Cheap organic food is still difficult to come by.

Learner example:

In the world we live in today, jobs have become much more difficult to come by. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

come down (FALL)

B2 to drop to the ground or floor

Dictionary examples:

A lot of trees came down in the storm.

Our plane came down in a field.

The snow came down during the night.

Learner example:

Luckily, the curtain came down and the play was postponed. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

come down (LOWER LEVEL)

B2 If a price or a level comes down, it becomes lower.

Dictionary examples:

House prices have come down recently.

Inflation is coming down.

Learner example:

The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has come down from 0.3% to 0.2%. (International English Language Testing System; B2; Romanian)

come down to sth/doing sth

C2 If a situation, problem, decision, etc. comes down to something, then that is the thing that will influence it most.

Dictionary example:

The success of the venture comes down to the commitment of those involved.

Learner example:

In the end, it all comes down to the question of job satisfaction. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swiss German)

come down with sth

B2 to become ill

Dictionary example:

The whole family came down with food poisoning.

Learner example:

I must apologize for writing so late, but my sister came down with flu and I had to visit her. (First Certificate in English; B2; Catalan)

come from swh/sth

A1 to be born, got from, or made in a particular place

Dictionary examples:

She comes from Italy.

Where do you come from?

Some of the best wines come from France.

Does that quote come from Shakespeare?

She could hear banging coming from the room upstairs.

Where will the money for the project come from?

Learner example:

My friend's name is Niloo. She comes from Iran. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Farsi)

come in (ENTER)

A2 to enter a room or building

Dictionary examples:

Do you want to come in for a cup of tea?

Hi, come in - lovely to see you!

Learner example:

He asked me if he could come in, and I said yes. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

come in (BE INVOLVED)

C2 used to describe how someone is involved in a situation, story, or plan

Dictionary example:

We need people to help clean up, and that's where you come in.

Learner example:

Another measure is to encourage people to do some forms of exercise and this is where health care practitioners come in. (International English Language Testing System; C2; Yapese)

come in handy

C2 to be useful at some time in the future

Dictionary example:

Don't throw those jars away - they might come in handy.

Learner example:

There's a washer and a dryer in the basement. I'm sure they'll come in handy with your new bundle of joy and the rest of your lovely bunch. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

come in useful

C2 to be useful and help someone do or achieve something, especially when there is nothing else to help them

Dictionary example:

You should keep that paint - it might come in useful.

Learner example:

However, I take great ex[c]eption to the view that much of our school education is a waste of time because everything we learn at school might come in useful later during our adulthood. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

come in for sth

C2 If someone comes in for criticism, praise, etc., they are criticized, praised, etc.

Dictionary example:

He came in for a lot of criticism for his remarks.

Learner example:

The most important part of this process, and one of extremely great importance for the exhibition, is that he had to endure prejudice and often came in for heavy criticism. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

come into sth

C2 to get money from someone who has died

Dictionary example:

Just after I left university, I came into a bit of money.

Learner example:

Even though one might jump to the conclusion that he probably came into a fortune when his father passed away after setting up a successful business, this is not the case. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come off

C1 to happen successfully

Dictionary example:

His attempt to impress us all didn't quite come off.

Learner example:

There were some points in the schedule which frankly speaking didn't come off and the organization failed [in] some points as well. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Polish)

come on (START)

C1 to start to happen or work

Dictionary examples:

The heating comes on at six in the morning.

I've got a cold coming on.

Learner example:

You can now also do you[r] shopping on the internet, get in contact with your bank and talk to doctors if you feel an illness coming on. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Danish)

Come on! (ENCOURAGEMENT)

B1 said to encourage someone to do something, especially to hurry or try harder

Dictionary example:

Come on or we'll be late!

Learner example:

Come on, help me to find it. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

come out (BECOME AVAILABLE)

B1 If a book, record, film, etc. comes out, it becomes available for people to buy or see.

Dictionary example:

When does their new album come out?

Learner example:

We're going to se[e] "Blade". It came out just yesterday. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Polish)

come out (SUN)

B1 When the sun, the moon, or a star comes out, it appears in the sky.

Dictionary example:

It's really warm when the sun comes out.

Learner example:

When we were coming back, the sun came out. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

come out (BE REMOVED)

C2 If dirt or a mark comes out of something, it disappears when you clean it.

Dictionary example:

Will this red wine stain come out?

Learner example:

At the same time the sparkling, living and red-as-hell blood stain came out. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come out (INFORMATION)

B2 If results or information come out, they are given to people.

Dictionary example:

The exam results come out in August.

Learner example:

The results finally came out at the beginning of October. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

come out (TELL)

C2 to tell people that you are homosexual

Dictionary example:

He hasn't come out to his family.

come out (BE SAID)

C2 If something that you say comes out in a particular way, you say it in that way.

Dictionary example:

I wanted to tell her that I loved her, but it came out all wrong.

come out (BECOME KNOWN)

C2 to become known

Dictionary example:

The truth about him will come out in the end.

Learner example:

Murder thrillers are supposed to keep the reader in suspense right up to the last page when the truth unexpectedly comes out. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Russian)

come out of sth

C2 If something comes out of a process or event, it is one of the results.

Dictionary example:

I hope something good can come out of this mess.

Learner example:

I hope that the council could take all the goods for us, that we can come out of this situation well. (Skills for Life (Level 2); C1; Portuguese)

come over (MOVE TOWARDS)

C1 to come to a place, move from one place to another, or move towards someone

Dictionary examples:

Come over here and I'll do your hair for you.

Are your family coming over from Greece for the wedding?

Learner example:

I recently moved to a new house, because my wife came over from Sri Lanka. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Singhalese)

come over (SEEM)

C2 to seem to be a particular type of person

Dictionary example:

Henry came over as a real enthusiast.

Learner example:

He always comes over as very honest, and even though he is ambitious the way he promotes himself is much more subtle than usually seen. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

come over sb

C1 If a feeling comes over you, you suddenly experience it.

Dictionary example:

I don't usually get so angry. I don't know what came over me.

Learner example:

It is sometimes enough just to see a photograph of yourself shot 3 years ago and it comes to your mind, 'What on earth came over me?!' (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Russian)

come round (VISIT)

A2 to visit someone in their home

Dictionary example:

Come round tonight and we'll watch a video.

Learner example:

So would you come round and see me in August? (Skills for Life (Entry 2); A2; Polish)

come round (AGREE)

C2 to change your opinion about something, or agree to an idea or a plan that you were against

Dictionary example:

I know Maria doesn't like you borrowing her car but she'll soon come round.

Learner example:

Fortunately, my parents finally came round to my way of thinking and I am glad to say they are most supportive. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

come round (BECOME CONSCIOUS)

C1 to become conscious again after an accident or medical operation

Dictionary example:

When he came round, he couldn't remember what had happened.

Learner example:

When he came round, he was lying in a bed, surrounded by smiling women. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

come through

C2 If information, a result or a document comes through, you receive it.

Dictionary example:

Have the results of the tests come through yet?

Learner example:

If the divorce had come through, they would have spent whole weekends together. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

come through (sth)

C2 to manage to get to the end of a difficult or dangerous situation

Dictionary example:

We've had some hard times, but we've come through them.

Learner example:

Those who have managed to come through all these hard years and got the desired medals expect now to be paid back. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Russian)

come to sth (TOTAL)

B2 to be a particular total when numbers or amounts are added together

Dictionary example:

That comes to £50, please.

Learner example:

[If] a bill c[ame] to £1000, you would be shocked and regret what you had done. (First Certificate in English; B2; Thai)

come to sth (DIFFERENT STATE)

B2 to reach a state, or change to a different state

Dictionary examples:

I was sad when the evening came to an end.

I came to the conclusion that the relationship wasn't working.

That was when the Labour party came to power.

Learner example:

That's why I came to the conclusion that the motorb[i]ke, together with anti-smog equipment, is the [only way] to get to work, unless you want [to] spend hours in a traffic jam. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

come under sth (LIST)

C1 to be in a particular part of a book, list, etc.

Dictionary example:

Hairdressers come under 'beauty salons' in the Yellow Pages.

Learner example:

Qui[te] a few, it seems, opted to go for places where they had previously worked. 17% from Education, 5% from Arts and science and 3% from the Science Stream, come under this category. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Hindi)

come under sth (EXPERIENCE)

C1 to experience something, often something unpleasant

Dictionary examples:

We came under a lot of pressure to leave the area.

They have come under criticism from local campaigners.

Learner example:

This opinion is true in a sense but it also depends on how kids are brought up and what influences they came under. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Chinese)

come up (MOVE TOWARDS)

B2 to move towards someone

Dictionary example:

A young girl came up to me and asked for money.

Learner example:

A tall slim Soc came up and said:- "I will, Daryl old bud." It was James, Daryl's old school friend. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

come up (BE MENTIONED)

B2 to be mentioned or talked about in conversation

Dictionary example:

What points came up at the meeting?

Learner example:

From time to time the discussion about keeping animals in zoos comes up. (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)

come up (SUN/MOON)

B2 When the sun or moon comes up, it rises.

Dictionary example:

We watched the sun come up over the ocean.

come up (OPPORTUNITY)

C1 If a job or opportunity comes up, it becomes available.

Dictionary example:

If some work comes up, you should take it.

Learner example:

I am delighted to help and advise you about the three proposals that have just come up. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Catalan)

be coming up

B2 to be happening soon

Dictionary example:

My exams are coming up next month.

Learner example:

A holiday is coming up next month so it would be great if you could come sometime between Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

come up (PROBLEM)

C1 If a problem or difficult situation comes up, it happens.

Dictionary example:

Sorry I'm late - a problem came up with the keys.

Learner example:

I found it very useful that I did not have to write or read, and if a problem came up I just called the qualified teacher. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Swedish)

come up (COMPUTER)

C1 If information comes up on a computer screen, it appears there.

Dictionary example:

The images came up on the screen.

Learner example:

The photo instantly comes up on the screen of the computer and you can enjoy the game with the photo. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Korean)

come up against sth

C1 to have to deal with a problem or difficulty

Dictionary example:

She came up against a lot of sexism in her first engineering job.

Learner example:

It is essential to get along well with your partners, otherwise you may come up against many problems, such as a loss of motivation, or even the risk of being fired. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; French)

come up with sth

B2 to suggest or think of an idea or plan

Dictionary example:

She's come up with some amazing scheme to double her income.

Learner example:

Together with my teacher we came up with the idea of asking you to come to the college in order to give a talk about your latest book and about the experiences you have had as a novelist. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)