come by

verb

came by; come by; coming by; comes by

transitive verb

: to get possession of : acquire

A good job is hard to come by.

intransitive verb

: to make a visit

came by after dinner

Synonyms of come by

• visit
• run in
• drop by
• drop in

Examples of come by in a Sentence

come by after work and I'll give you some clothes for the rummage sale

a literary award like that isn't easy to come by

Recent Examples on the Web

How and what to watch in the Preakness With a capacity of just 4,800 at Laurel Park, tickets are hard to come by this year. —Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026

Now, viewers for dramas, comedies and reality shows are harder to come by, because people now have the leeway to watch their favorites at any moment of their own choosing. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026

Clients came by with their unruly pooches — up to six at a time — for group sessions in the windowless middle room that Annie had converted into a training facility with urine-safe flooring, a dog-food freezer, and wire racks stuffed with toys and equipment. —Anne Kadet, Curbed, 15 May 2026

The rigors of a high-profile job make rest hard to come by — which can result in a need for a sudden boost. —Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for come by

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

come by

verb

1

: to make a visit

come by after dinner

2

: acquire

good help is hard to come by