English Reference

Phrasal verb

come up with sth

Definition

phrasal verb. to think of an idea, a plan, or an answer to a problem.

phrasal verb. to produce or suggest something, such as an idea or a solution, through mental effort.

Examples

“She needs to come up with a better plan.”

“The marketing team had to come up with a new slogan before the product launch next week.”

“Despite the limited budget, the engineers managed to come up with a revolutionary cooling system that outperformed all previous models.”

Examples

simple

“She needs to come up with a better plan.”

contextual

“The marketing team had to come up with a new slogan before the product launch next week.”

complex

“Despite the limited budget, the engineers managed to come up with a revolutionary cooling system that outperformed all previous models.”

Usage

usually followed by an abstract noun like 'idea', 'plan', 'solution', or 'excuse'.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'think of'; 'come up with' implies a process of creation or problem-solving rather than just a sudden memory.

Pitfall

He came up a great idea.

He came up with a great idea.

the preposition 'with' is essential to connect the verb to the idea being produced.

Phrasal verb

Particles

up with

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

come + up + with + object

Synonyms

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference