Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to come through for

to come through for

26 3.5
To help someone when they need it most
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : echar una mano a
  • When I was struggling with my project, my colleague really came through for me by offering help and advice.
  • really came through for
  • always come through for
  • came through for me again

And the lads come through, come through for me.

Autoplay Next

Examples

Synonyms

to help out
vsto come through for
  • Informal
486 1.0

To do something for someone who cannot do it alone

is used when assistance happens at the most critical and decisive moments
to help someone out
vsto come through for
  • Informal
182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

is about being reliable in crisis rather than only occasional practical assistance
to see through
vsto come through for
33 4.2

To help someone with money during a difficult time

focuses on sudden critical assistance at the moment of need rather than long term backing
to offer support
vsto come through for
28 2.7

To give help to someone during a difficult time

focuses on ongoing aid during hard times rather than a single crucial moment
to come to one's rescue
vsto come through for
16 3.1

To help someone who is in trouble or danger

is about reliably providing assistance at critical times rather than only arriving
to come to the rescue
vsto come through for
14 3.4

Arrive to help someone who is in trouble

is about offering timely assistance in need, not only for dangerous situations
to bring through
vsto come through for
4 4.3

Help someone survive or recover from a dangerous situation

is about giving timely practical help in urgent need rather than only ensuring survival
to come to (someone's) aid
vsto come through for
3 3.1

To help someone when they are in trouble

focuses on providing needed help exactly when it matters most
to stand in the gap
vsto come through for
1 7.1

Help or act for others when they need support

focuses on filling a missing role rather than only giving immediate assistance
to go to the wall
vsto come through for
  • Informal
6.6

To stand up for someone when they are in trouble

involves providing direct practical assistance in urgent need rather than public defence

Antonyms

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

to let down
210 2.9

Make someone feel disappointed by not doing what you promised

How Helpful

to save
∞ 1.0
to bail out
84 3.7
to come through for
  • Informal
26 3.5
to support
753 1.4
assist
33 1.8

Surface Forms

come through for infinitive
came through for past
come through for past participle
coming through for present participle
comes through for third person singular

Morphology

come + through + for

The sense of "providing help or delivering for someone" is partly built from the constituents: 'come' (arrive), 'through' (completely/finish), and 'for' (on behalf of someone), which together can suggest 'arrive and deliver for someone.' However, the conversational nuance of reliably helping or 'delivering' in a social/support context is idiomatic and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Come through for gives a clear picture: think of a friend who comes through a crowd to reach you and help when you are in a hard time. That's why it means 'to help or support someone when they need it most'.