Come: meaning, definitions and examples

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come

[kʌm ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

to arrive or go to a place

To move or travel towards a destination. To approach or reach a specific location. To reach a particular state or condition.

Synonyms

approach, arrive, reach.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
come	Used when someone moves towards a place or person from a distance. It's general and informal. Can you come to my house for dinner? When will you come back from your trip? She asked him to come closer.
arrive	Used to signal someone or something has reached a place, especially when coming from a long distance. Often used in formal contexts. What time does the train arrive? He arrived at the party late. The package finally arrived yesterday.
approach	Used when someone or something is moving nearer to someone or something. Often implies cautious movement or preparation. As we approach the city, the traffic gets heavier. You should approach the boss carefully with that request. A stranger approached me on the street.
reach	Used when someone or something achieves a particular point or level, especially after some effort. It can also have a sense of physically touching something. After hours of hiking, we finally reached the summit. She reached out to grab his hand. He needs to reach a decision by tomorrow.

Examples of usage

She came to the party last night.
They are coming to visit us next week.
The bus will come in ten minutes.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

to happen or occur

To take place or occur. To be produced or performed. To become available or obtainable.

Synonyms

happen, occur, take place.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
come	This word is often used in informal settings when talking about someone moving towards the speaker or the place being referenced. Can you come to my house tonight? Spring will come soon.
happen	This word is suitable for both casual and formal contexts to talk about events that occur, often unexpectedly. What happens now? Accidents happen all the time.
occur	Employ this in formal or written contexts to describe events or situations that take place, often used with technical or detailed topics. The meeting will occur at 10 AM. Earthquakes frequently occur in this region.
take place	Best used in formal or semi-formal settings to indicate planned events or actions happening. The conference will take place next week. The wedding took place in a beautiful garden.

Examples of usage

The concert will come to an end soon.
Winter is coming.
The new book will come out next month.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

sexual climax

An orgasm experienced during sexual activity.

Synonyms

climax, orgasm, sexual release.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
come	A less formal term often used in everyday conversations, usually between people familiar with each other. It can be less polite in certain contexts. Did you come already? She couldn't come, no matter how hard she tried.
climax	A more formal term, often used in literary or medical contexts. It can also refer to the most intense or exciting part of something. The story reached its climax in the final chapter. Both partners achieved climax around the same time.

Word

Description / Examples

come

A less formal term often used in everyday conversations, usually between people familiar with each other. It can be less polite in certain contexts.

Did you come already?
She couldn't come, no matter how hard she tried.

climax

A more formal term, often used in literary or medical contexts. It can also refer to the most intense or exciting part of something.

The story reached its climax in the final chapter.
Both partners achieved climax around the same time.

Examples of usage

She had a powerful come last night.
Reaching come is important for both partners.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word has roots in Old English 'cuman', suggesting a long history of the concept of movement.
In Latin, the word 'venire' relates to coming, highlighting how different languages express similar actions.
It's been a part of the English language since before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Pop Culture

The phrase 'Come together' is famously used in a song by The Beatles, promoting unity and friendship.
In modern lingo, 'come at me' is often used on social media, showing confidence or challenge.
Various movies feature 'come' in iconic lines, often signaling a turning point in the story.

Psychology

'Come' can indicate a desire to connect, whether socially or emotionally, tapping into our innate need for relationships.
The way people invite others to 'come' can reflect personality traits, such as openness or assertiveness.
In therapy, the phrase often symbolizes an invitation to confront personal issues and move towards healing.

Literature

Shakespeare frequently employed the word in his plays to convey characters’ intentions and actions.
In poetry, 'come' often symbolizes arrival, whether anticipated joy or unexpected challenge.
Modern authors use the idea of 'coming of age' to describe characters growing and facing life’s trials.

Science

In physics, the concept of 'coming' can relate to motion and the study of how and why objects move.
In biology, 'come' is often associated with organisms moving towards stimuli, a reaction known as positive taxis.
The process of 'coming' is integral to understanding migration patterns in animals, highlighting the search for resources.

Translations

Translations of the word "come" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vir

🇮🇳 आना (aana)

🇩🇪 kommen

🇮🇩 datang

🇺🇦 приходити

🇵🇱 przyjść

🇯🇵 来る (kuru)

🇫🇷 venir

🇪🇸 venir

🇹🇷 gelmek

🇰🇷 오다 (oda)

🇸🇦 يأتي (yati)

🇨🇿 přijít

🇸🇰 prísť

🇨🇳 来 (lái)

🇸🇮 priti

🇮🇸 koma

🇰🇿 келу (kelu)

🇬🇪 მოსვლა (mosvla)

🇦🇿 gəlmək

🇲🇽 venir

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #150, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

...
147 never
148 old
149 few
150 come
151 important
152 above
153 second
...