# come across sb/sth

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/come-across-sb-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to find or meet someone or something by chance, without planning to.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I came across with a great book." but "I came across a great book." — do not use 'with' after 'across'; the verb is followed directly by the object.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.