came
5 synonyms for came, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense of "come" — used to describe something arriving or happening in the past.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
arrived
approached
showed up
turned up
Etymology
Attested from the 17th century, this word is of unknown origin. It possibly comes from kame ("a ridge"). Compare Scots came ("comb"), Scots kame ("combing; a ridge"), and Middle English camet ("silver").
Full origin of came →Frequently asked questions
What does “came” mean?
The word “came” means past tense of "come" — used to describe something arriving or happening in the past. In plain terms, mostly the past tense of "come"; the glasswork sense is a specialist, unrelated word.
How do you pronounce “came”?
“Came” is pronounced KAYM (/ˈkeɪ̯m/ in IPA).
How do you use “came” in a sentence?
Here is “came” used in a sentence: “She came home late after the concert.”
What part of speech is “came”?
Depending on how it is used, “came” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “came” a common word?
“Came” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “came” have?
“Came” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: past tense of "come" — used to describe something arriving or happening in the past.
What is the difference between 'came' and 'come'?
'Came' is the simple past tense: 'She came home early'. 'Come' is the base or present form ('I come here often') and also the past participle used with 'have': 'She has come home'. So you say 'he came' but 'he has come', never 'he has came'.
What is the present tense of 'came'?
The present tense of 'came' is 'come'. 'Came' is its irregular past form, so 'they come today' becomes 'they came yesterday'. The past participle is also 'come', which is why the three principal parts are simply come, came, come — an unusual pattern worth memorising.
