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.
Her crew comes across a shipwreck and morally wrestles with saving the survivors or leaving them to die and conserve their own depleting supplies, and a dark folkloric creature rises in the aftermath. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 May 2025 The underlying data may support Arteta’s argument, but his comments nevertheless come across as somewhat defensive. James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025 This combination showcases both confidence and presence without coming across as confrontational. Jessica Chen, CNBC, 9 May 2025 But while users were concerned about attendees misinterpreting the theme, or playing it safe by wearing something utterly boring, many took what came across their timeline and ran with it. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 May 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 14 May. 2025.

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