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come to
/kʌm tuː/◆phrasal verb
reach a state or condition
She came to realize the importance of honesty.
She eventually understood the importance of honesty.
formal
to reach a particular state, condition, or realization after a process
After years of denial, he finally came to accept the truth.
He eventually accepted the truth.
The company came to a decision after long discussions.
The company reached a decision after long discussions.
Often used to describe a gradual or eventual realization or change in state.
Medicine
formal
to regain consciousness after fainting or being unconscious
The patient came to after the surgery.
The patient regained consciousness after the surgery.
Commonly used in medical contexts.
formal
to amount to a total when added together
The total bill came to $200.
The total bill amounted to $200.
Used in financial or mathematical contexts to describe a sum.
Collocations
come to think of itwhen reconsidering somethingcome to a decisionreach a conclusioncome to an agreementreach a mutual understanding
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'come to' changes based on context. Always check if it refers to a state, realization, or a total amount.
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Interpretation
'Come to' is rarely used in its literal sense (e.g., physically moving toward something). Focus on the figurative meanings related to reaching a state or condition.
Word Origin
The verb 'come' originates from Old English 'cuman' (to come, approach), and 'to' is a preposition derived from Old English 'tō' (to, towards). The phrasal verb 'come to' has been used since Middle English to describe reaching a state or condition.
Usage Notes
The phrasal verb 'come to' is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from describing a realization to regaining consciousness or calculating a total. Pay attention to the context to determine the exact meaning.
Word Breakdown
come
to move or progress toward a place, state, or condition
verbto
indicates the direction or result of the action
prepositionEnglish Dictionary