come across

verb

came across; come across; coming across; comes across

intransitive verb

1

: to give over or furnish something demanded

especially : to pay over money

2

: to produce an impression

comes across as a good speaker

3

: come through sense 2

transitive verb

: to meet, find, or encounter especially by chance

Researchers have come across important new evidence.

Synonyms of come across

• seem
• feel
• look
• sound

Examples of come across in a Sentence

the law professor comes across as a bit of an ogre at first, but he's actually quite personable

Recent Examples on the Web

Dress Your Windows Bare windows can often come across as unfinished. —Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 30 May 2026

Vocals sound crisp and defined, but the mids in the track, including the synth melody and the thumping electronic beat, come across slightly compressed and flat. —Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026

The project took a further twist after Robert came across Turrell’s work in Lech am Arlberg and got in touch with him. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Call and Johns, who are avid collectors of Hollywood memorabilia, came across ephemera from the practice of Madam Renna, a facialist during Hollywood’s golden age who serviced the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor and more. —James Manso, Footwear News, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for come across

• albatross
• applesauce
• barabbas
• helios
• kshatriyas
• menelaus
• backcross
• crisscross
• lacrosse
• recross
• tomas
• blas