come up

present singular third person comes up · participle present coming up · past came up

1. idiomaticintransitiveTo emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly.

   Unless anything comes up, I'll be there every day this week.

2. intransitiveTo be revealed to have a certain value, quality, or status.

   The movie didn't come up to our expectations.

   2 more examples

   They've looked for him everywhere, and come up dry.

   Hey look Ma, I made it / Hey look Ma, I made it / Everything's comin' up aces, aces / If it's a dream, don't wake me, don't wake me

   2018, Brendon Urie, Michael Angelakos, Sam Hollander, Morgan Kibby, Jake Sinclair, Dillon Francis, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”, in Pray for the Wicked, performed by Panic! at the Disco

3. intransitiveTo come to attention and present oneself; to arrive or appear.

   Be ready for when your turn comes up.

   3 more examples

   At some point in the conversation my name came up, and I readily agreed to their proposition.

   The proposal came up before the committee.

   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."

   1951 September, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 621

4. intransitiveTo appear (before a judge or court).

   He came up before a judge and was fined a thousand dollars.

5. intransitiveTo draw near in time.

   The summer holidays are coming up.

6. intransitiveTo approach a time or scheduled event.

   We're coming up on the interview in the last half-hour of the program.

   1 more example

   In 1883, the contract came up for renewal, the L.N.W.R. received it, and the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company was set aside. But there was a certain miasma of secrecy about the affair, so that many, especially in Ireland, looked for information and insisted on getting it.

   1960 May 28, K. A. Murray, “Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghaire”, in Railway Magazine, page 305

7. intransitiveTo reach in height.

   He only comes up around this high.

   1 more example

   You have to come up to here to ride this roller-coaster.

8. intransitiveTo rise (above the horizon).

   It'll be warmer once the sun comes up.

9. UKintransitiveslangTo begin to feel the effects of a recreational drug.

   I could tell from her expression that she was coming up already.

10. UKintransitiveOxford UniversityTo arrive at the university. (Compare go down, send down.)
11. intransitiveslangAfrican-American VernacularTo happen or occur.

    His shift came up, so he had to go to work.

12. intransitiveslangAfrican-American VernacularTo grow up; to experience a childhood.

    I came up in Baltimore.

13. intransitiveslangAfrican-American VernacularTo do well or be successful.

    Watch out for him, he's been coming up lately.

14. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see come, up.

    I came up the ladder carefully, holding the bucket in my right hand.

15. intransitiveTo come towards; to approach.

    I was standing on the corner when Nick came up and asked for a cigarette.

    1 more example

    Racing around to come up behind you again

    1973 March 1, Roger Waters, “Time”, in The Dark Side of the Moon, performed by Pink Floyd

plural come ups

1. An opportunity

   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

   2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, “Thrift Shop”