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

Buk Clinic Buk Clinic is another option that patients may come across while researching the top hair-transplant clinics in Turkey. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

The painting was discovered in 2025 by Salvador Salort-Pons, director of the Detroit Institute of Art, who came across it in a private collection while preparing for an exhibition of portraits of Olivares. — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Sep. 2026

Researching religious-art theft, Gurrea came across Erik the Belgian, a notorious thief who targeted churches across Spain during the 20th century. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Harry tries to solve a murder of which he’s been accused, but the mystery comes across as an afterthought. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 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