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come to

B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words

To wake up after being unconscious, or to add up to a number, or to start talking about something.

Literal meaning: To move towards something or someone.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To regain consciousness after fainting, being knocked out, or anaesthesia.

"She came to on the floor of the kitchen, unsure of how long she had been out."

"When I came to, I was lying on the ground with people standing over me."

— Muhammad Ali, widely reported in interviews about his boxing career
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To add up to a particular amount; to total.

"With tax and service charge, the meal came to nearly eighty dollars."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 neutral

To reach or arrive at a particular topic, point, or stage in a discussion or process.

"We'll come to the question of funding later in the meeting."

Grammar: inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral

To enter one's mind; to be thought of or remembered (usually in 'come to mind' or 'come to me').

"I was trying to remember her name, and it suddenly came to me at midnight."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

This phrasal verb has several distinct senses. The 'regain consciousness' sense is very common in medical and dramatic contexts. The 'total' sense is everyday (e.g., 'the bill comes to £40'). The 'reach a topic' sense is common in formal and informal speech alike.

Commonly used with

total bill senses conclusion decision mind

Forms

Base
come to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes to
he/she/it
Past simple
came to
yesterday
Past participle
come to
have + pp
-ing form
coming to
continuous

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