come
7 synonyms and 7 antonyms for come, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To move toward the speaker, a particular place, or a point of reference.
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.
Antonyms
How to use come
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English cuman, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to come," ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to step" or "to arrive." Distantly related to Latin venio ("to come").
Full origin of come →Frequently asked questions
What does “come” mean?
The word “come” means to move toward the speaker, a particular place, or a point of reference. In plain terms, one of the most basic verbs in English, covering movement toward something, arrival, origin, and reaching a state or result.
How do you pronounce “come”?
“Come” is pronounced kuhm (/kʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “come” in a sentence?
Here is “come” used in a sentence: “Come here and look at this.”
What is the opposite of “come”?
The opposite of “come” — its antonyms — are leave, go, depart, exit and withdraw.
What part of speech is “come”?
“Come” is a verb.
Where does the word “come” come from?
The word “come” comes from Latin. From Old English cuman, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to come," ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to step" or "to arrive." Distantly related to Latin venio ("to come").
Is “come” a common word?
“Come” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “come” have?
“Come” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move toward the speaker, a particular place, or a point of reference.
What is the difference between come and go?
The two describe opposite directions relative to a reference point. 'Come' means to move toward the speaker or the place being talked about — 'come here.' 'Go' means to move away from it — 'go there.' If you're heading toward where I am, you come; if you're heading away, you go.
What is the past tense of come?
'Come' is irregular. Its simple past tense is 'came' — 'she came yesterday.' Its past participle, used with 'have,' returns to 'come' — 'she has come back.' So you say 'I came' for the plain past, but 'I have come' when forming the perfect tense with a helping verb.
What is an example of 'come' in a sentence?
You might say, 'Please come to my house at six,' or 'The bus is coming now.' In both, something moves toward the speaker or an agreed place. 'Come' also works figuratively — 'winter has come' or 'the idea came to me' — showing arrival in time or thought rather than space.