# come apart

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/come-apart
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to break into pieces or separate into different parts, usually because something is old or poorly made.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The chair came it apart." but "The chair came apart." — this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot take an object between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.