Phrasal verb
come across sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. to find or meet someone or something by chance, without planning to.
phrasal verb. to encounter or discover someone or something unexpectedly; the encounter is typically accidental rather than the result of a deliberate search.
Examples
“I came across an old photo while cleaning my room.”
“While researching the local history, she came across a reference to a hidden tunnel beneath the town square.”
“The archaeologists unexpectedly came across a series of ancient inscriptions that challenged the established timeline of the civilization's decline.”
Examples
simple
“I came across an old photo while cleaning my room.”
contextual
“While researching the local history, she came across a reference to a hidden tunnel beneath the town square.”
complex
“The archaeologists unexpectedly came across a series of ancient inscriptions that challenged the established timeline of the civilization's decline.”
Usage
the object can be a person, an object, or an abstract idea like information.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'find' (which can be intentional) and 'run into' (usually used for people); 'come across' is very common for discovering information or physical objects.
Pitfall
I came across with a great book.
I came across a great book.
do not use 'with' after 'across'; the verb is followed directly by the object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
across
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
come + across + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/come-across-sb-sth