come across

verb

came across; come across; coming across; comes across
Synonyms of come acrossnext

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

transitive verb

: to meet, find, or encounter especially by chance
Researchers have come across important new evidence.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On March 5, CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, came across a 2021 Peterbilt tractor headed toward Mexico, and selected the vehicle and driver for inspection. S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026 In general, the mostly English-speaking characters (everyone throws a few Spanish words here and there with varying degrees of effectiveness) tend to come across as more theatrical or on a different dramatic register than García Treviño, who works as a grounding force in every exchange. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 But when the 11-year-old came across it on his social media feed, he was intrigued. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 Watch any clip of any musician that takes your breath away and the part that’s coming across isn’t even the music in a lot of cases. Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for come across

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of come across was in 1775

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come across.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20across. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

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