Phrasal verb
come to
Meanings
to reach a total amount or number
to regain consciousness after fainting or being unconscious
to enter someone’s mind; to occur to someone
Definition
To come to means to reach a total amount or to regain consciousness.
Come to is commonly used to talk about arriving at a final total after adding things up. It can also mean to wake up or regain consciousness after fainting or being asleep. In some contexts, it means to appear in someone’s mind as a thought or idea.
Examples
- My expenses come to about $60 this week.
- You’ll come to in a minute if you rest and breathe slowly.
- He came to after the loud crash and looked around, confused.
- A better solution came to me while I was washing the dishes.
- Their bill came to more than they expected at the café.
Common mistake
Learners often say "come to" when they mean "come up to" for reaching a place or level (e.g., use "The water came up to my knees," not "came to my knees").
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.