come about

verb

came about; come about; coming about; comes about
Synonyms of come aboutnext

intransitive verb

1
: happen
2
: to change direction
the wind has come about into the north
3
: to shift to a new tack

Examples of come about in a Sentence

how did all this come about?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Deficiency may also come about from gastrointestinal blood loss, which can be an early sign of colon cancer. — Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 The move to change county data center zoning rules comes about five months after the plan commission gave no recommendation for a data center in Eagle Creek Township near Lowell. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 The collaboration came about after Citrini ran into Claude’s biosecurity guardrails while trying to get the model to research drug candidates. — Robert Hart, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026 So that’s how ‘In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue’ came about. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for come about

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of come about was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come about.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20about. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

come about

verb
1
2
: to change direction
the wind has come about into the north
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