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come around — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings
come around
1visit (someone's home)2change opinion3regain consciousness

Meaning 1 · most common

visit (someone's home)

  • come around to sb's place/house

to visit someone at their home, usually for a short time or social reason.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

Why don't you come around for dinner tonight?

A: Are you free this weekend?
B: Yeah, I can come around on Saturday if you like.

Common mistake

Not: Come around in my house at 7.

Say: Come around to my house at 7.

Use 'come around to + place' (or just 'come around' / 'come round').

More on “visit (someone's home)”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I have free time, I usually come around to my grandparents' house to check on them.

Tell it apart

Come around for dinner on Sunday.

  • visit my home

I'm slowly coming around to your point of view.

  • starting to agree

Goes with

  • come around + for/to
Practice saying this
Next meaning: change opinion

Meaning 2

change opinion

  • come around to idea/opinion

to change your mind or accept a different opinion after some time.

How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

At first, she didn't like the idea, but she eventually came around to it.

A: I know you don't agree now, but maybe you'll come around to my point of view.
B: We'll see.

Common mistake

Not: After a while she came around her opinion.

Say: After a while she came around to my way of thinking.

'Come around' is intransitive; the idea you accept takes 'to' ('come around to it').

More on “change opinion”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

My parents were against my decision to study abroad, but they came around to it after I explained my reasons.

Tell it apart

She came around to the idea in the end.

  • changed her mind, accepted it

She came around after fainting.

  • regained consciousness

Goes with

  • come around to + idea
Practice saying this
Next meaning: regain consciousness

Meaning 3

regain consciousness

  • come around sth

to wake up or become conscious again after being unconscious or fainting.

How oftenNow and then
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

He fainted at the gym but came around after a few minutes.

A: She just came around. Should we call the doctor?
B: Yes, better to be safe.

Common mistake

Not: She slowly came around her senses.

Say: She slowly came around.

Don't add 'her senses' — 'come around' (or 'come to') stands alone.

More on “regain consciousness”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During the marathon, one runner collapsed but came around quickly thanks to the medical team.

Tell it apart

He came around after the surgery.

  • woke up / regained consciousness

He came around to our plan.

  • accepted it

Goes with

  • come around + after/from
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visit (someone's home)change opinionregain consciousness