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

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.
But this framing backfired by coming across as legalistic and materialistic. Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 26 June 2025 Just after midnight, her group came across another group of young women. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 24 June 2025 After that, Blunstone and Schwartzman come across the pond for seven more screenings — starting July 9 in New York City — that, in addition to the Q&As, will also feature performances of Zombies songs by Blunstone backed by Schwartzman’s band Rooney, which has opened for the Zombies in the past. Gary Graff, Billboard, 24 June 2025 To change his style in the face of adversity would come across as inauthentic. Will Sammon, New York Times, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for come across

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of come across was in 1878

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come across.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20across. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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