# come in

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to enter a room or a building.

For teachers: to enter a physical space; often used as an imperative or a polite invitation to cross a threshold.

## Examples

- Please come in and sit down.
- The teacher told the students to come in quietly because the exam had already started.
- As the storm intensified, the hikers were relieved when the innkeeper finally invited them to come in and warm themselves by the fire.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He came in the room." but "He came into the room." — use 'into' when followed by a specific destination; 'come in' is usually used without a following noun phrase.

## Usage notes

- often used alone as a command or invitation, but can be followed by 'to' and a specific place.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'go in' to show perspective; 'come in' implies the speaker is already inside the destination.

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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.
