From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcome across phrasal verb1 come across somebody/somethingCHANCE/BY CHANCE to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance I came across an old diary in her desk. I’ve never come across anyone quite like her before. We’ve come across a few problems that need resolving.RegisterIn written English, people often use encounter when writing about problems or difficulties because this sounds more formal than come across:The team of researchers had encountered similar problems before.2 if an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand Your point really came across at the meeting.3 if someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities SYN come over as He comes across as a very intelligent sensitive man. She sometimes comes across as being rather arrogant. I don’t think I came across very well (=seemed to have good qualities) in the interview. → come→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
come across• I came across an interesting news item in yesterday's 'Times'.• Digging in the garden, she came across some pieces of bone.come as• She doesn't come across well in interviews, but she's very good at her job.• In the book, Strayhorn comes across as a sympathetic human being, while Stan Getz emerges as a volatile character with a violent temper.• He does not come across as a visionary on the campaign trail because he has never been one.• Occasionally it comes across as absurd pretension.• Immigration policy is not mentioned again after the early pages, and there he comes across as an apologist.• Gore came across as an earnest, deliberately spoken politician, often gesturing with his hands.• He often comes across as being rather cold and arrogant.• And not every child with these physical sensitivities comes across as cautious and fearful.• Yet he also comes across as endearingly incompetent.• This often comes across as stubbornness and defiance.• It wouldn't come across as very credible if I trusted you a third time. 