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

Synonyms

• 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

Michèle comes across as a singular and powerful personality, with something of Akerman’s own trenchant intellect, assertive candor, and vulnerable self-revelation. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025

Everything seems to be straight out of Laura’s worst nightmare — until Daniel comes across his mother’s phone, charges it, and watches her last video message to him. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

However, every few years, a movie enters the cultural lexicon that comes across as lived-in and accessible. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025

In this framing, what could feel like self-promotion instead comes across as useful knowledge the whole team can apply. —Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for come across

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