English

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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come up (third-person singular simple present comes up, present participle coming up, simple past came up, past participle come up)

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see come,‎ up.
    I came up the ladder carefully, holding the bucket in my right hand.
  2. (intransitive) To come towards; to approach.
    I was standing on the corner when Nick came up and asked for a cigarette.
  3. (idiomatic, intransitive) To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly.
    Unless anything comes up, I'll be there every day this week.
  4. (intransitive) To be revealed to have a certain value, quality, or status.
  5. (intransitive) To come to attention and present oneself; to arrive or appear.
    At some point in the conversation my name came up, and I readily agreed to their proposition.
    Be ready for when your turn comes up.
    The proposal came up before the committee.
    • 1951 September, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 621:
      It is interesting that this argument should have come up at this moment," Mr. Smith adds, "when the subject is being debated so hotly in the field of the petrol-driven internal combustion engine."
  6. (intransitive) To appear (before a judge or court).
    He came up before a judge and was fined a thousand dollars.
  7. (intransitive) To draw near in time.
    The summer holidays are coming up.
  8. (intransitive) To approach a time or scheduled event.
    We're coming up on the interview in the last half-hour of the program.
  9. (intransitive) To reach in height.
    You have to come up to here to ride this roller-coaster.
    He only comes up around this high.
  10. (intransitive, of a heavenly body) To rise (above the horizon).
    It'll be warmer once the sun comes up.
  11. (British, slang, intransitive) To begin to feel the effects of a recreational drug.
    I could tell from her expression that she was coming up already.
  12. (UK, Oxford University, intransitive) To arrive at the university. (Compare go down, send down.)
  13. (African-American Vernacular, slang, intransitive) To happen or occur.
    His shift came up, so he had to go to work.
  14. (African-American Vernacular, slang, intransitive) To grow up; to experience a childhood.
    I came up in Baltimore.
  15. (African-American Vernacular, slang, intransitive) To do well or be successful.
    Watch out for him, he's been coming up lately.

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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come up (plural come ups)

  1. An opportunity
    • 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (lyrics and music), “Thrift Shop”:
      I'm gonna pop some tags
      Only got 20$ in my pocket
      I'm, I'm, I'm huntin', lookin' for a come up
      This is fucking awesome

Anagrams

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