come about: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “come about” mean?
to happen or occur, often unexpectedly or without planning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to happen or occur, often unexpectedly or without planning; to be the result of something.
In nautical terms: to change direction; to change course (of a ship).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both dialects use it similarly.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and literary in American English; more common in British English.
Frequency
Used more frequently in British English, particularly in spoken and journalistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “come about” in a Sentence
It + come about + that-clauseNoun Phrase + come aboutHow + did + it + come about + ?Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “come about” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- How did this dreadful state of affairs come about?
- The agreement came about after lengthy negotiations.
- The ship came about swiftly to avoid the rocks.
American English
- How did this situation come about in the first place?
- The change in policy came about due to public pressure.
- The yacht came about and headed for the harbor.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe the origin of a corporate strategy, merger, or market shift.
Academic
Used in historical or sociological texts to explain the causes of events or trends.
Everyday
Used to ask or explain how a situation developed.
Technical
Nautical: describing a ship's change in direction.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “come about”
- Incorrect: 'It came about the meeting.' Correct: 'It came about that the meeting was cancelled.'
- Incorrect: 'How it came about?' Correct: 'How did it come about?'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans slightly towards formal or written English, especially in the structure 'It came about that...'.
'Come about' often implies a process or chain of causes, while 'happen' can be more immediate and accidental.
It is rarely used in continuous forms (e.g., 'is coming about') as it describes a completed event or process.
Yes, in sailing, 'come about' means to change the direction of a sailing vessel by turning its bow through the wind.
to happen or occur, often unexpectedly or without planning.
Come about: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkʌm əˈbaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkʌm əˈbaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “How came it about that...?”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ship 'coming about' to face a new direction; events also 'come about' when circumstances shift direction unexpectedly.
Conceptual Metaphor
EVENTS ARE JOURNEYS (The event 'came about' as a traveller arrives at a destination).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'come about' used correctly?