come about

verb

came about; come about; coming about; comes about

intransitive verb

1
: happen
2
: to change direction
the wind has come about into the north
3
: to shift to a new tack

Examples of come about in a Sentence

how did all this come about?
Recent Examples on the Web Still, the move, which effectively eliminates a Microsoft rival in consumer AI chatbots, raises questions about how the deal came about and the details of its terms. Kylie Robison, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 The Alabama court case came about because frozen embryos belonging to couples undergoing IVF treatment at an Alabama clinic were destroyed. Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2024 The discovery came about when researchers at Stanford programmed the computers to teach themselves biology. Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The arrests come about two months after Queen Creek police recommended charges against seven individuals in the seconds-long attack on Lord, whose body was left lying on the side of a suburban street among a throng of partygoers. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Pamela Price recall: A hedge fund partner from Piedmont is spending big to help oust Alameda County’s new top prosecutor Monday’s submission comes about 14 months into Price’s tenure as the first Black woman to serve as the county’s top prosecutor. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 The discerning leader will recognize this interplay of conditions and perception is also how far more complex forms come about, from widgets to buildings to social networks and democracies. Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 This brew crew has a long history This beer dinner came about a month or two ago. Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 The arrests come about two months after Queen Creek police recommended charges against seven individuals in the secondslong attack on Lord, whose body was left lying on the side of a suburban street among a throng of partygoers. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'come about.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of come about was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near come about

Cite this Entry

“Come about.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20about. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

come about

verb
1
2
: to change direction
the wind has come about into the north

More from Merriam-Webster on come about

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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