# come up

Pronunciation: say "kum UP" /kʌm ˈʌp/

## Phrasal verb

1. Of a matter or event, to arise or become known, especially unexpectedly.
   - Simple: Of a problem or event, to happen or become known, often when no one expected it.
   - _I'm sorry to cancel, but something urgent has come up at work._
   - _New evidence came up late in the investigation and changed the whole case._
2. Of an event or period, to draw near in time.
   - Simple: Of an event, to be getting closer in time, so that it will happen soon.
   - _With the election coming up, both candidates are campaigning nonstop._
   - _My parents' anniversary comes up next month, and we're planning a surprise party._
3. To move toward someone or something; to approach.
   - Simple: To come near or walk toward someone or something.
   - _A stranger came up to me at the bus stop and asked for directions._
   - _She came up behind him quietly and tapped him on the shoulder._
4. Of the sun, the moon or another heavenly body, to rise above the horizon.
   - Simple: Of the sun, the moon or a star, to rise into the sky.
   - _We broke camp an hour before the sun came up._
   - _The full moon came up over the hills just after dark._
5. To reach as high as a particular point or level.
   - Simple: To reach as high as a certain level.
   - _During the flood, the water came up to the second step of the porch._
   - _Her son is only nine, but he already comes up to her chin._
6. To be revealed as having a particular value, quality or status.
   - Simple: To be shown to have a certain value, quality or level.
   - _Every sample from the old well came up clean, so the town lifted its warning._
   - _The roulette wheel came up red five times in a row, and the whole table cheered._
7. To be nearing a particular time, date or scheduled event.
   - Simple: To be getting close to a certain time or planned event.
   - _She's coming up on twenty years with the company._
   - _We're coming up on the top of the hour, so here's a quick look at the weather._
8. To come forward for attention or consideration; to arrive or appear, as a topic, a turn or an item of business does.
   - Simple: To be brought to people's attention, or to arrive or appear.
   - _Your name came up when we were discussing who should lead the project._
   - _The zoning change will come up for a vote at next month's council meeting._
9. To move upward or to a higher place, in the plain physical sense of come and up.
   - Simple: To move up to a higher place, or up toward where someone is.
   - _Come up to the roof, where you can see the whole city._
   - _The diver came up slowly, stopping twice on the way to the surface._
10. To do well for oneself or become successful. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To do well or become successful.
   - _That producer's been coming up ever since his first mixtape blew up._
   - _We're coming up slow but steady, and nobody can stop us now._
12. Of an event, to happen or occur. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To happen or take place.
13. To appear before a judge or a court of law.
   - Simple: To appear in front of a judge or in a court.
   - _She comes up before the magistrate on Monday on a shoplifting charge._
   - _The three men came up for sentencing last week and were each given two years._
14. To experience the first noticeable effects of a drug taken for pleasure. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: To start feeling the effects of a drug taken for pleasure.
   - _Standing by the speakers, I could feel myself starting to come up._
   - _Half the crowd were coming up just as the headline act took the stage._
15. To grow up; to live through one's childhood. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To grow up and spend your childhood somewhere or in some way.
   - _She came up in a two-bedroom apartment with four older brothers._
   - _Kids who come up in that neighborhood learn early to look out for each other._
16. At Oxford University, to arrive at the university, as opposed to going down from it. *(UK)*
   - Simple: In Oxford speech, to arrive at the university, not to leave it.
   - _She came up to Oxford in the autumn to read history._
   - _Most freshers come up a few days before term begins._

## Noun

11. An opportunity or chance that someone can make the most of.
   - Simple: A chance to get something good.
   - _Five bucks for a leather jacket? Now that's a come up._
   - _Signing with a major label would be the come up the band had been waiting for._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/come-up (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).