come to them

USAGE SUMMARY

"come to them" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are speaking about someone or something physically coming to a certain place or person. For example: "The children walked up to the shop, and the shopkeeper came to them to greet them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You must come to them sideways.

The New Yorker

We'll come to them.

The Guardian

Most potential donors now come to them.

The New York Times

I'll come to them in a moment.

The Guardian

The ideas just come to them.

The New Yorker

It does not come to them".

The New York Times - Arts

"Stability needs to come to them".

The New York Times

Now a candidate has come to them.

The New York Times

They have audiences that come to them — and they're unique".

The New Yorker

And now the celebration has come to them, too.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But the war had come to them anyway.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come to them" when describing a situation where something or someone physically or metaphorically approaches or becomes available to a particular group or individual.

Common error

Avoid using "come to them" when the intended meaning is for the subject to move away from or distance themselves from the group; consider using "leave them alone" or "stay away from them" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to them" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier to indicate direction or movement. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts where this phrase effectively conveys the idea of approaching or arriving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come to them" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase widely employed to depict movement or availability towards a specific group. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is primarily to indicate direction, with a register considered neutral across various authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While the phrase enjoys broad applicability, writers should be mindful of the intended direction of action to prevent misinterpretations, ensuring clarity in their writing. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, academia, and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go to them

A more general way of expressing movement towards someone.

approach them

Focuses on the act of nearing or getting closer to someone or something.

reach out to them

Emphasizes the initiation of contact or communication.

turn to them

Highlights seeking help, advice, or support.

gravitate towards them

Implies a natural inclination or attraction.

converge on them

Suggests multiple entities moving towards a single point.

flock to them

Indicates a large group moving towards a particular place or person.

appeal to them

Focuses on being attractive or interesting to someone.

attend to them

Focuses on the action of giving your attention or care to them.

defer to them

Suggests yielding to someone's judgment or authority.

FAQs

How can I use "come to them" in a sentence?

You can use "come to them" to describe movement toward a group or individuals. For example, "Opportunities eventually "come to them" if they remain patient and persistent".

What does "come to them" mean?

"Come to them" indicates a movement, either literal or figurative, toward a specific group or individual. It suggests approach, arrival, or availability.

Which is correct, "come to them" or "came to them"?

Both "come to them" and "came to them" are grammatically correct, but they differ in tense. "Come to them" is present tense, while "came to them" is past tense. The choice depends on the timeframe of the action you're describing.

What are some alternatives to "come to them"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "come to them" could include "approach them", "reach out to them", or "turn to them".