come up

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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.

   • 1973 March 1, Roger Waters (lyrics and music), “Time”, in The Dark Side of the Moon, performed by Pink Floyd:

     Racing around to come up behind you again

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.
   • 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:

     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

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, of a heavenly body) To rise (above the horizon).

   It'll be warmer once the sun comes up.

9. (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.

10. (UK, Oxford University, intransitive) To arrive at the university. (Compare go down, send down.)

• come down
• go down

• come up with

• upcome