come up with

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to suggest, produce, or invent an idea, plan, explanation, or solution. It is extremely common in both business and daily conversations.

Examples

• We need to come up with a new marketing strategy for our product.

  We need to come up with a new marketing strategy for our product.

• How did you manage to come up with such a brilliant idea?

  How did you manage to come up with such a brilliant idea?

• They need to come up with a solution to this problem as soon as possible.

  They need to come up with a solution to this problem as soon as possible.

• She came up with a great excuse for why she was late to the meeting.

  She came up with a great excuse for why she was late to the meeting.

• Can anyone come up with a better suggestion?

  Can anyone come up with a better suggestion?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He came up a great idea.

  ✓ He came up with a great idea.

  Do not omit the preposition 'with' when introducing the idea or solution.

• ✗ She came up with a plan to her boss.

  ✓ She presented a plan to her boss.

  'Come up with' means to generate or invent the idea, not to physically deliver or present it to someone else.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Scientists are trying to ___ a cure for the disease.

  💡 invent or find a solution

  Show answer

  come up with

• I need to ___ a good name for my new dog.

  💡 think of or generate

  Show answer

  come up with