come to term

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come to terms" is a correct and commonly used expression in English.
This phrase can be used to refer to reaching an agreement about something, often a difficult or contentious issue. For example, "After many hours of negotiation, the two sides were finally able to come to terms on a new contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

The high doses of radiation caused so many miscarriages that we will never know the number of genetically damaged fetuses that did not come to term.

The New York Times

One woman threatened to kill herself and her unborn baby, shattered by the decision to force her to come to term in Nauru.

The Guardian

Towns and cities grow by developing beyond their green belts and creating what we have come to term a commuter belt.

The Guardian

It takes me about twenty years to come to term with any difficult period in my life, to get enough of a grasp on it to fictionalize it.

The New Yorker

Although the cloning of humans is currently illegal throughout the world, the egg cell that contains nuclear DNA from an adult cell could in theory be implanted into a woman's uterus and come to term as an actual cloned human.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Plans to present both "Le Grand Macabre" and "The Cunning Little Vixen" were hatched around the same time, Mr. Gilbert said, noting that the Janacek work was on the drawing board before the Ligeti venture had come to term.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Athens, however, refused to come to terms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One star did come to terms Saturday.

The New York Times

Have you come to terms with this?

Princeton University

"He has come to terms with practice.

The Guardian - Sport

"I have come to terms with it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come to term" when referring to the completion of a pregnancy or the full development of a project or idea. Ensure the context clearly indicates which meaning you intend.

Common error

Avoid using "come to term" in contexts where simpler alternatives like "complete" or "finish" would be more appropriate. The phrase carries a specific connotation of a process reaching its natural end.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to term" functions as a verb phrase, often used intransitively. Ludwig AI examples show it describing the completion of a pregnancy or the final stages of a plan/project.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "come to term" is a grammatically sound idiomatic expression that is used to describe the completion of pregnancy or the final stage of a project, plan, or idea. While it can be used more broadly, Ludwig AI examples show that this phrase is most often found in news and media, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While semantically correct, care should be taken not to overgeneralize it, as this specific connotation might not always be appropriate. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical status is correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reach fruition

Emphasizes the successful completion or realization of something, particularly a plan or project.

be brought to completion

Highlights the process of completing a task or project, often implying effort and dedication.

gestate fully

Specifically refers to the full development of a pregnancy.

be fully developed

Focuses on the complete development of an idea, plan, or organism.

reach the end of gestation

Specifically relates to the conclusion of a pregnancy period.

be concluded successfully

Highlights the successful completion of a project or negotiation.

be successfully delivered

Implies the successful completion and presentation of a project or task.

achieve completion

Focuses on the act of reaching a state of completeness.

materialize fully

Highlights the process of something becoming real or tangible.

be successfully executed

Refers to the successful implementation of a plan or project.

FAQs

What does "come to term" mean?

The phrase "come to term" typically refers to a pregnancy reaching its full duration and resulting in birth. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a plan or project reaching its final stage of development or completion.

Can I use "come to term" to describe finishing a task?

While you can use "come to term" metaphorically for completing a task, it's best reserved for situations where there's a sense of a natural, developmental process reaching its conclusion. Simpler words like "complete" or "finish" might be more suitable in many cases.

What are some synonyms for "come to term" in the context of a project?

In the context of a project, you could use phrases like "reach fruition", "be brought to completion", or "be successfully delivered" as alternatives to "come to term".

Is it correct to say a plan "came to term"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct, but it's a metaphorical usage. Saying a plan "came to term" implies that the plan has fully developed and reached its intended conclusion, similar to a pregnancy reaching its end.