come through
B2Neutral to informal. Common in speech and writing, less common in formal legal/academic texts.
Definition
Meaning
To succeed in a difficult situation; to survive or endure a challenge; to provide something promised or needed.
To be communicated or received (e.g., a message); to pass through a place; to emerge from a process or state; to demonstrate one's true character in a crisis.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb combines the motion/directional sense of 'come' with the completion/endurance sense of 'through'. It strongly implies successful navigation of adversity or a test. Can be used both transitively and intransitively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use it with similar frequency and meaning. Slight preference in US usage for 'come through with [something]' meaning to deliver (e.g., money, help). In sports contexts, US English might use 'come through in the clutch' more often.
Connotations
Both varieties carry positive connotations of reliability and resilience.
Frequency
Equally common and understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + come through + ([adverbial phrase]) (intransitive)[Subject] + come through + ([object]) (transitive)[Subject] + come through + for + [object][Subject] + come through + with + [object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come through with flying colours”
- “come through in the clutch”
- “come through hell and high water”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need the investor to come through with the funding by Friday."
Academic
"The experimental data finally came through, confirming the hypothesis."
Everyday
"My friends really came through for me when I was ill."
Technical
"The signal is coming through clearly now after we boosted the antenna."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team came through a gruelling match to win the cup.
- The payment came through this morning.
- She always comes through for her colleagues.
American English
- He really came through for us when we needed a loan.
- The approval finally came through from headquarters.
- They came through a tough negotiation successfully.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
- N/A
American English
- (Not standard)
- N/A
adjective
British English
- (Rare as pure adjective) A come-through performance (less common).
- N/A
American English
- (Rare as pure adjective) A come-through player (less common).
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sun came through the clouds.
- The letter came through the post.
- I knew you would come through and help me.
- He came through the operation very well.
- The company came through the financial crisis stronger than before.
- We're waiting for the test results to come through.
- Despite immense pressure, her integrity came through in her decision.
- The legislation finally came through Parliament after months of debate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a train coming THROUGH a dark tunnel into the light. It survives the dark journey and arrives successfully.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A DIFFICULT SITUATION IS AN OBSTACLE OR PASSAGEWAY. To 'come through' is to complete the journey past the obstacle.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'приходить через'. For 'to deliver', use 'предоставить' or 'выполнить обещание'. For 'to survive', use 'пережить', 'выдержать', 'справиться'. Confusion with 'проходить' (to pass an exam) is possible.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'come through' for simple arrival ('He came through the door' is correct but literal; the idiomatic sense requires a challenge). Incorrect preposition: 'come through *of* a crisis' (omit 'of'). Treating it as inseparable when an object is used: 'He came the crisis through' (incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'come through' used idiomatically to mean 'survive a difficulty'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot put an object between 'come' and 'through' (e.g., NOT 'He came the crisis through'). The object follows 'through' (e.g., 'He came through the crisis').
'Get through' focuses more on the process of enduring or finishing something difficult. 'Come through' emphasizes the successful result or emergence from that difficulty, often highlighting reliability or a positive outcome.
Yes. Information, data, payments, signals, and official documents can 'come through' (meaning arrive or be received). Organisations can also 'come through' a challenge.
Yes, but it's informal. 'With it' refers to something promised or needed (e.g., money, help). 'We need that report now – can you come through with it?'