come across

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 meet or find someone or something by chance B2
  2. 2 seem a certain way to other people B2
1 come across sb/sth

meet or find someone or something by chance

B2

What does "come across" mean in this sense?

To come across something means to find it by chance, without having been looking for it specifically. The sense of accidental or lucky discovery is central — you might be tidying a room, browsing online, or reading a book when you unexpectedly encounter something interesting. It works equally well for objects (a document, a photograph, a recipe) and for people (an old friend, a colleague you hadn't seen in years). Unlike an active search, coming across something implies a degree of serendipity — the discovery happens to you rather than being the result of deliberate effort. The phrasal verb is equally at home in casual conversation and in written English such as journalism or academic prose.

Examples

How to use it

come across + noun/noun phrase

The most common pattern — a person or thing found by chance follows directly after 'across'.

He came across a fascinating article while scrolling through his news feed.

come across + pronoun

Pronouns must also follow 'across', never appear between 'come' and 'across'; this works best when the referent is already clear from context.

There was an old photograph in the drawer — I came across it while looking for a pen.

have/has come across + noun/noun phrase

The present perfect is natural for asking about or describing experiences of chance discovery at an unspecified point in the past.

Have you ever come across a word that you couldn't find in any dictionary?

come across + noun/noun phrase (past continuous as background)

The past continuous is often used to set the scene for when the discovery happened, with 'come across' as the main event.

She was sorting through old boxes when she came across her grandmother's letters.

come across + something + adjective/relative clause

Adding a description or clause after the object gives more detail about what was found.

I came across something really useful when I was browsing a second-hand bookshop.

Common Collocations

come across an articlecome across an old friendcome across informationcome across a problemcome across a wordcome across evidence

Common Mistakes

Separating the verb and particle

Come across is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'across' — never between 'come' and 'across', even with pronouns.

✗ I came it across in an old magazine.
✓ I came across it in an old magazine.
Confusing the two meanings of 'come across'

Come across has a second, unrelated meaning: to give a particular impression (e.g. 'She came across as very confident'). When it means to find something by chance, it always takes a direct object after 'across' — it is never followed by 'as + adjective'.

✗ I came across as this great recipe online.
✓ I came across a great recipe online.
Using the future simple

Saying 'I will come across' sounds unnatural because chance discoveries are not something you can plan or predict in that way. Use 'might come across' or rephrase to avoid the future simple.

✗ Don't worry — you will come across the information you need.
✓ Don't worry — you might come across the information you need.

Usage

Come across is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. Remember it has two different meanings: finding something by chance (takes a direct object) and making an impression (followed by 'as'), so pay attention to context.

2 come across

seem a certain way to other people

B2

Sense 2: What does "come across" mean?

To come across in a certain way means to create a particular impression on the people around you — the way you seem or appear to others, even if that's not how you intend to be perceived. It's especially common in situations where how you present yourself matters, such as job interviews, presentations, or first meetings. You can come across as a specific quality ('she came across as very confident') or describe the overall impression with an adverb ('he came across really well'). The impression doesn't have to be intentional — someone might come across as rude without meaning to. It can describe people, but also things like speeches, emails, or advertising campaigns.

Examples

How to use it

come across as + adjective

The most common pattern — use this to describe the specific quality or characteristic someone appears to have.

He came across as very approachable during the team meeting.

come across as + noun phrase

Use a noun phrase after 'as' when you want to describe the type of person or thing someone seems to be.

The new manager comes across as a natural leader.

come across + adverb (well / badly / strongly / clearly)

When you want to give a general judgement rather than name a specific quality, use an adverb like 'well' or 'badly' instead of 'as'.

I thought their presentation came across really strongly.

subject + come across + as / adverb (no object)

This phrasal verb is always intransitive in this sense — there is never an object between 'come' and 'across'.

She was nervous, but she still came across as calm and professional.

Common Collocations

come across as confidentcome across as arrogantcome across as friendlycome across wellcome across badlycome across as genuine

Common Mistakes

Missing 'as' before an adjective

When 'come across' is followed by an adjective or noun, you must include 'as'. Learners often drop it, which sounds unnatural in English.

✗ He comes across very confident in interviews.
✓ He comes across as very confident in interviews.
Confusing the two senses of 'come across'

'Come across' has a completely different meaning when followed by a direct noun object — it means to find or encounter something by chance. In the impression sense, 'come across' is always followed by 'as' + adjective/noun or by an adverb like 'well' or 'badly', never by a bare noun.

✗ I came across very nervous. / She came across an honest person. (if you mean she seemed honest)
✓ I came across as very nervous. / She comes across as an honest person.
Using future simple in contexts where it sounds unnatural

'Will come across as' is grammatically possible but can sound a little awkward in everyday use. It's more natural to use the present simple or present continuous when talking about how someone typically seems.

✗ Don't worry — you will come across as very professional.
✓ Don't worry — you come across as very professional. / You're coming across really well.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works equally well in British and American English. It is very commonly used when giving feedback on how someone performed in interviews, presentations, or social situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'come across' always involve a physical object, or can it be used for ideas and information too?

It works very naturally with abstract things like information, evidence, ideas, or a quote — not just physical objects. For example, 'I came across an interesting theory while reading about the topic' is perfectly natural. The key is that the discovery should feel accidental rather than the result of a deliberate search.

Can 'come across' be used in the passive, like 'the document was come across'?

No — this phrasal verb does not work in the passive. The structure places the person who discovers something as the subject, so you cannot make the found object the subject of the sentence. Rephrase using the active voice instead: 'A researcher came across the document' rather than any passive form.

Is there a difference between 'come across' and 'stumble across/upon'?

'Stumble across' or 'stumble upon' emphasises a more surprising or particularly accidental discovery, often suggesting the finder was not expecting it at all. 'Come across' is more neutral and widely applicable, making it the safer, more versatile choice in most situations.

Can I use 'come across' when talking about meeting a person unexpectedly, or is it mainly for things?

You can use it for people as well as things — for example, 'I came across an old colleague at the airport' is perfectly natural. However, when talking specifically about unexpected meetings with people, 'run into' is arguably more common in everyday speech.

Can I say 'I come across it often' to describe something that happens regularly?

Yes, the present simple is fine for habitual or repeated discoveries — for instance, 'I come across unfamiliar words all the time when I read academic texts.' Just note that this works for recurring situations; for a single completed discovery in the past, the simple past or present perfect is far more common.

Can 'come across' be used to describe things like emails or speeches, or only people?

It can be used for more than just people. A speech, an email, a company's website, or even an advertisement can all 'come across' in a certain way. For example: 'The apology came across as sincere' or 'Their marketing comes across as a bit pushy.'

Is there a difference between 'come across as' and 'come across well/badly'?

Yes — they're related but slightly different. 'Come across as + adjective/noun' names the specific impression (e.g. 'she came across as confident'), while 'come across well/badly' gives a more general judgement about the overall impression without specifying a quality. Both patterns are very natural and common.

Does 'come across' always mean what you intend, or can it describe an unintended impression?

It can describe either. Often it's used precisely when the impression is unintentional or surprising — for example, 'He didn't mean to be dismissive, but he came across as arrogant.' This is part of what makes the phrasal verb so useful in feedback and reflective conversations.

Can I use 'come across' in the past perfect, like 'had come across as'?

Technically it's grammatically possible, but it's uncommon in practice and can sound awkward. In most situations, the simple past ('she came across as') or present perfect ('she has always come across as') is the more natural choice.

Is 'come across' the same as 'come off as' or 'come over as'?

'Come off as' is a close equivalent but is more common in American English and informal speech. 'Come over as' exists mainly in British English and is less frequent. 'Come across as' is the most widely recognised form in both British and American English, making it the safest choice for international communication.

Related Phrasal Verbs

stumble across sth

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