come in
A1Neutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
To enter a place or room; to arrive.
To become relevant, fashionable, or receive something (e.g., information, money). To begin broadcasting or be received (radio/TV). To finish a race in a particular position.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily functions as a phrasal verb (verb + particle). It can be literal (movement into a space) or figurative (becoming relevant, receiving). Often used as an imperative to invite entry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is highly similar. Minor differences in collocational preference (e.g., 'come in useful/handy' slightly more common in UK). The imperative 'Come in!' (invitation) is universal.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In business, 'to come in' on a project (join) is common in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + come in + (Adverb of place)[Subject] + come in + for + [Noun Phrase] (criticism/praise)[Subject] + come in + [Ordinal Number] (in a race)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Come in from the cold”
- “Come in handy”
- “Come in for a landing”
- “Have it coming in spades”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To join a project or company. 'We need a specialist to come in and review the process.'
Academic
To become relevant or applicable. 'This is where statistical analysis comes in.'
Everyday
As an invitation or to describe arrival. 'Come in, the door's open!' 'The post just came in.'
Technical
Of signals/data: to be received. 'The telemetry is coming in clearly from the rover.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please do come in and make yourself at home.
- This old toolkit still comes in useful sometimes.
- He came in third in the marathon.
American English
- Come on in, guys! The game's about to start.
- Reports are coming in of a major storm.
- She came in for a lot of praise after her speech.
adverb
British English
- (Not typically used as a standalone adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as a standalone adverb)
adjective
British English
- The incoming tide was strong.
- We're preparing for the incoming administration.
American English
- Incoming mail is sorted here.
- Watch out for incoming fire!
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Come in, please!
- The cat came in through the window.
- My father comes in at six o'clock.
- When does the new manager come in?
- This map might come in handy on our trip.
- News is coming in about the election results.
- The company came in for severe criticism over its environmental record.
- Short haircuts are coming in again this season.
- Where do I come in on this project?
- The charity came in for a windfall when the anonymous donation arrived.
- His experience in mediation really came in when negotiations stalled.
- The spacecraft's signal began to come in faintly from beyond Mars.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COMEdian walking INto a club to perform. He's arriving (coming in) to do his job.
Conceptual Metaphor
RECEIVING IS COMING IN (money, information), BECOMING AVAILABLE/FASHIONABLE IS COMING IN, PARTICIPATION IS COMING IN (to a project).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'заходить' for visiting briefly; 'come in' is specifically about entry.
- Avoid using 'входить в' for figurative senses like 'come in useful'; use 'пригодиться'.
- The imperative 'Come in!' is not 'Иди сюда!' (come here), but 'Входи(те)!'.
Common Mistakes
- *I came in the house. (Correct: I came into the house / I came in.) The particle 'in' doesn't take a direct object without 'into'.
- *The news came in me. (Correct: The news came to me.)
- Overusing 'come in' to mean 'visit' without the nuance of entering.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'This old blanket still comes in handy on camping trips,' what does 'comes in' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'come in' is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot say 'come it in' or 'come in it' (for entering). You need 'come into it'.
Use 'come in' when no object follows ('Come in!'). Use 'come into' when a noun object follows ('He came into the room'). 'Into' is a preposition introducing a place.
Yes, informally. E.g., 'This is where you come in' means 'this is the point where you become involved or relevant.'
It means to finish in a specific position. Structure: Subject + come in + ordinal number (first, second, last) or adverb (first, last). E.g., 'She came in first.'