come across

Meaning

To find or meet something or someone by chance.

Examples

1. I came across my old school photos while I was cleaning the attic. US UK
2. She came across an interesting article about sleep. US UK
3. While reading, I came across a word I did not know. US UK

How to use it

This verb cannot be separated: come across it, not come it across. Be careful: come across can also mean “to seem”, as in “He comes across as shy.”

Common mistake

Not: I came it across in a book.
Say: I came across it in a book. (Come across stays together.)