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come around — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb3 meanings
  1. 1 visit (someone's home)to visit someone at their home, usually for a short time or social reason.
  2. 2 change opinionto change your mind or accept a different opinion after some time.
  3. 3 regain consciousnessto wake up or become conscious again after being unconscious or fainting.
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All meanings, in depth

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1

visit (someone's home)

B1come around to sb's place/housespokenMost common

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

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.

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

Common mistake

Come around in my house at 7.

Come around to my house at 7.

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

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
Use 'come around' when talking about visiting a person, especially at their home. It is common in British English.'Come over' is more common in American English with the same meaning.

Often paired with

come around + for/to
2

change opinion

B2come around to idea/opinion

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

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.

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

Common mistake

After a while she came around her opinion.

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').

Tell it apart

She came around to the idea in the end.

changed her mind, accepted it

She came around after fainting.

regained consciousness
Use 'come around to' when someone finally agrees or accepts something after being unsure or against it.Not the same as 'give in', which suggests pressure or defeat.

Often paired with

come around to + idea
3

regain consciousness

B2come around sth

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

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.

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

Common mistake

She slowly came around her senses.

She slowly came around.

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

Tell it apart

He came around after the surgery.

woke up / regained consciousness

He came around to our plan.

accepted it
Use 'come around' when someone wakes up after fainting or being knocked out, not after sleeping.'Wake up' is for sleep; 'come around' is for unconsciousness.

Often paired with

come around + after/from

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