1 A2 neutral
to enter a place or area
"She came into the room smiling."
inseparable
come into
B2 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
to enter a place, receive something such as money, or reach a new state
In plain English
to go into something, get something, or start being in a new state
What does "come into" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to receive money, property, or another possession, especially by inheritance
"He came into a large fortune when his aunt died."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to reach or begin a particular state, quality, or role
"The plan came into effect at midnight."
“
to boldly go where no man has gone before
— Star Trek opening narration (related expression with 'go into' state not exact)
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move into the inside of something
Actually means
to go into something, get something, or start being in a new state
Usage tip
Common in both literal and idiomatic uses. The money/property sense is slightly formal.
Words that pair with "come into"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
room money inheritance power use effect
How to conjugate "come into"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
come into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes into
he/she/it
Past simple
came into
yesterday
Past participle
come into
have + pp
-ing form
coming into
continuous
Hear "come into" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "come into" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "come into"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
begin enter inherit reach receive take effect
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.