come

1 of 2

verb

came ˈkām How to pronounce come (audio) ; come; coming ˈkə-miŋ How to pronounce come (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move toward something : approach
Come here.
b
: to move or journey to a vicinity with a specified purpose
Come see us.
Come and see what's going on.
c(1)
: to reach a particular station in a series
Now we come to the section on health.
(2)
: to arrive in due course
The time has come to make your decision.
Has the mail come yet?
d(1)
: to approach in kind or quality
This comes near perfection.
(2)
: to reach a condition or conclusion
came to regard him as a friend
Come to think of it, you may be right.
The screw came loose.
e(1)
: to advance toward accomplishment : come along
The job is coming nicely.
(2)
: to advance in a particular manner
Come running when I call.
(3)
: to advance, rise, or improve in rank or condition
has come a long way
f
: extend
Her dress came to her ankles.
2
a(1)
: to arrive at a particular place, end, result, or conclusion
came to his senses
come untied
He came to regret his choice.
(2)
: amount
The taxes on it come to more than it's worth.
b(1)
: to appear to the mind
The answer came to them.
(2)
: to appear on a scene : make an appearance
Children come equipped to learn any language.
c(1)
: happen, occur
No harm will come to you.
(2)
: to come to pass : take place
used in the subjunctive with inverted subject and verb to express the particular time or occasion
Come spring the days will be longer.
d
: originate, arise
Wine comes from grapes.
They come from sturdy stock.
e
: to enter or assume a condition, position, or relation
The artillery came into action.
f
: to fall within a field of view or a range of application
This comes within the terms of the treaty.
g
: to issue forth
A sob came from her throat.
h
: to take form
Churn till the butter comes.
i
: to be available
This model comes in several sizes.
as good as they come
j
or less commonly cum often vulgar : to experience orgasm
3
: to fall to a person in a division or inheritance of property
Several thousand dollars came to him from his uncle.
4
obsolete : to become moved favorably : relent
5
: to turn out to be
Good clothes don't come cheap.
6
: become
a dream that came true

transitive verb

1
: to approach or be near (an age)
a child coming eight years old
2
: to take on the aspect of
come the stern parent

come

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly
1
often vulgar : semen
2
often vulgar : orgasm
Phrases
come a cropper
: to fail completely
The plan came a cropper.
come across
: to meet, find, or encounter especially by chance
Researchers have come across important new evidence.
come again
: repeat
also : to speak further
used as an interrogative
come clean
: to tell the whole story : confess
came clean about her crimes
come into
: to acquire as a possession or achievement
come into a fortune
come into one's own
: to achieve one's potential
He had a slow start as a pitcher, but he's come into his own this season.
also : to gain recognition
come of age
: to reach maturity
Your class has come of age at a moment of great consequence for our nation and for the world …Barack Obama
come off it
: to cease foolish or pretentious talk or behavior
Come off it, you're being silly.
come over
: to seize suddenly and strangely
What's come over you?
come to
: to be a question of
When it comes to pitching horseshoes, he's the champ.
come to grief
: to encounter misfortune (such as calamity, defeat, or ruin)
His campaign came to grief.
come to grips with
: to meet or deal with firmly, frankly, or straightforwardly
come to grips with the unemployment problem
come to oneself
: to get hold of oneself : regain self-control
But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare … "Luke 15:17 (Revised Standard Version)
come to pass
: happen
Many of the things he predicted have come to pass.
come to terms
1
: to reach an agreement
often used with with
The company has come to terms with the union.
2
: to become adjusted especially emotionally or intellectually
usually used with with
come to terms with modern life
come upon
: to meet or find by chance : come across
came upon an old friend
to come
: existing or arriving in the future
in the days to come
There will be more trouble to come.

Examples of come in a Sentence

Verb Please come here for a minute. I want to show you something. She came quietly into the room. He came home late again last night. The dog began to growl as we came closer. The captain of the ship invited us to come aboard. People come from all over the country to see him. Some people came by car while others came by plane. Why don't you come and stay with us for a while? About a hundred people are coming to the wedding. People come many miles to visit the shrine.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English cuman; akin to Old High German queman to come, Latin venire, Greek bainein to walk, go

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of come was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near come

Cite this Entry

“Come.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

come

verb
(ˈ)kəm
came
ˈkām
; come; coming
ˈkəm-iŋ
1
: to move toward or journey to something : approach
come here
come see us
2
: to arrive at or enter a scene of action
the police came to our rescue
3
a
: to reach the point of being or becoming
the rope came untied
b
: to add up : amount
the bill came to $10
4
: to take place
the holiday came on Thursday
5
: originate sense 2, arise
comes from a fine family
honey comes from bees
6
: to be available
the dress comes in three colors
7
: extend sense 4, reach
a coat that comes to the knees
8
a
: to arrive at a place, end, result, or conclusion
came to their senses
we now come to the next chapter
b
: happen sense 5
no harm will come to you
9
: to fall within the range or limits of something
comes under the terms of the treaty
10
: to turn out to be : become
her dreams have come true
comer
ˈkəm-ər
noun

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