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

Synonyms

• be
• befall
• betide
• chance
• come
• come down
• come off
• cook
• do
• go down [slang]
• go on
• hap
• happen
• occur
• pass
• transpire

Examples of come about in a Sentence

how did all this come about?

Recent Examples on the Web

The script came about based on my own experiences and basically wrote itself. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025

This Cup opportunity came about as singer Chris Stapleton wanted to sponsor a Daytona 500 car to promote his Traveller Whiskey. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2025

This state of affairs came about because the Fed helped to fund the large budget deficits that allowed the big spending and the central government’s debt problem to happen in the first place. —Ray Dalio, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025

Instead, the 911 call came about in altogether more hilarious circumstances. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

come about

verb

1

: happen sense 2

2

: to change direction

the wind has come about into the north