come-along

1 of 2

noun

ˈkəm-ə-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce come-along (audio)
: a small portable winch usually consisting of a cable attached to a hand-operated ratchet

come along

2 of 2

verb

came along; come along; coming along; comes along

intransitive verb

1
: to accompany someone who leads the way
asked me to come along on the trip
2
: to make progress
work is coming along well
3
: to make an appearance
won't just marry the first man that comes along

Synonyms

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of come-along in a Sentence

Verb our backyard makeover is coming along nicely
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The truth is, a loss as total as Thursday’s embarrassment comes along more rarely than once a generation. — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 For all of the conspicuousness that comes along with a Secret Service entourage, however, Mila is still able to have a little bit of her own good-natured fun. — Alex Ross, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Pillsbury Spring Shape Sugar Cookies are the latest in the beloved baking brand’s lineup of ready-to-bake sugar cookies—a nostalgic dessert that comes along for every major holiday and season. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025 Once the pandemic came along, Stegemann moved bit by bit from Hamburg out to Bender’s in the countryside. — Fiona Bornhöft, Architectural Digest, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for come-along

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of come-along was in 1559

Browse Nearby Words

come-all-ye
come-along
come along
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come-along.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come-along. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

come along

verb
1
: to go with as a companion
2
: to make progress
work is coming along well
3
: to make an appearance
won't take the first offer that comes along
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