1.
to think of and suggest an idea or a solution
“She came up with a brilliant idea.”
“Can you come up with a solution?”
“We need to come up with a plan.”
Synonyms: to think of, to invent, to suggest
Phrasal verb
What does come up with mean?
Meaning: to think of an idea or a plan
B1
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Quick answer
Come up with = to think of an idea (a solution, a plan). She came up with a great idea = she had a great idea. It is a three-word phrasal verb, and it is not separable. People use it a lot when they speak and write.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
Word order
Inseparable
The object goes after the particle, never between the verb and the particle.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- come up with
- Past Simple:
- came up with
- Past participle:
- come up with
- -ing form:
- coming up with
Common mistakes to avoid
Come up with or find?
Find = to discover an object or a piece of information. Come up with = to create in your head (an idea, a solution, a name). I found my keys / I came up with an idea. I found up with an idea ❌.
A three-word phrasal verb that is not separable
The order is fixed: come + up + with + object. Come up with an idea ✓ / Come up an idea with ❌. With a pronoun: come up with it.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: come up with
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
Come up with: you understand the rule. Now practise it.
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English contestCome up with: often tested in the English contest
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Frequently asked questions
What does come up with mean?+
Come up with means to think of an idea, a solution, a plan or a name, and to suggest it. It is a very common three-word phrasal verb. She came up with a great idea = she thought of a great idea.
What is the difference between come up with and find?+
Find = to discover an object or a piece of information that already exists. Come up with = to create something in your head. I found my keys (an object) / I came up with a plan (a new idea).
Is come up with separable?+
No, it is not separable. The order is fixed: come + up + with + object. Come up with a solution ✓ / Come a solution up with ❌. With a pronoun: come up with it ✓.
What is the past simple of come up with?+
Came up with. He came up with the answer in five minutes = he found the answer in five minutes. Come is irregular: come → came → come.
What is the difference between come up with and think of?+
They are close. Think of = to have something in your mind (it can be more passive). Come up with = to produce an idea actively (it is more creative). Think of a number / Come up with a solution.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/come-up-with
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.