Phrasal verb
come apart
Definition
phrasal verb. to break into pieces or separate into different parts, usually because something is old or poorly made.
phrasal verb. to disintegrate or separate into constituent components; often used intransitively to describe physical failure or metaphorical collapse.
Examples
“The old book is starting to come apart.”
“I washed my favorite sweater, but the seams started to come apart in the machine.”
“The coalition government began to come apart as internal disagreements over the new budget became public and irreconcilable.”
Examples
simple
“The old book is starting to come apart.”
contextual
“I washed my favorite sweater, but the seams started to come apart in the machine.”
complex
“The coalition government began to come apart as internal disagreements over the new budget became public and irreconcilable.”
Usage
usually used as an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'fall apart', which is often more dramatic or emotional; 'come apart' is frequently used for physical objects like clothing or machinery.
Pitfall
The chair came it apart.
The chair came apart.
this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot take an object between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
apart
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
come + apart
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/come-apart