Meaning & use
came to pass
Last updated
“came to pass” is a form of “come to pass”.
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseliteraryold-fashioned
happened or took place, especially as predicted or expected
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the subject is usually an event or situation. It is not used in progressive tenses.
Patterns
- something came to pass
- it came to pass that ...
And it came to pass that the people rejoiced in the streets.
The prophecy came to pass exactly as the old woman had foretold.
Many years later, the strange events came to pass just as the legend said.
Common combinations
- it came to pass
- It came to pass that a great storm covered the land.
- the prophecy came to pass
- The prophecy came to pass when the king was overthrown.
- the events came to pass
- The events came to pass exactly as described in the ancient scroll.
Synonyms and how they differ
- happened
- The everyday word; 'came to pass' is literary and often suggests fate or prophecy.
- occurred
- More formal and neutral; 'came to pass' has a stronger sense of destiny or prediction.
- transpired
- Formal and sometimes suggests something became known; 'came to pass' focuses on the event actually happening.
Word family
- come to pass phrase
- The base form, meaning to happen or occur.
Commonly confused: came to pass or come to pass?
came to pass vs come to pass
This is the base form; 'came to pass' is the past tense. They are not different in meaning.
Practice
In the old story, it ______ that a young farmer found a bag of gold.
Choose one answer.
'Came to pass' is the correct fixed phrase meaning 'happened'. The other options are not standard English phrases.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “came to pass”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.