come about

come about (third-person singular simple present comes about, present participle coming about, simple past came about, past participle come about)

1. (intransitive) To come to pass; to develop; to occur; to take place; to happen; to exist.

   We have to ask, how did this come about?

   • 1960 December, “The Hastings Line diesel-electric multiple units”, in Trains Illustrated, page 732:

     In a review of operating experience with the Southern Region diesel-electric multiple-units on the Hastings line, read to the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in October, Mr. W. J. A. Sykes, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer of the S.R., revealed how the somehat unprepossessing appearance of these train sets came about.

2. (intransitive, nautical) To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking. See also come to.
3. (intransitive) To change; to come round.
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi]:

     The wind is come about.

   • 1611, Ben[jamin] Jonson, Catiline His Conspiracy, London: […] [William Stansby?] for Walter Burre, →OCLC, (please specify the page):

     On better thoughts, and my urg'd reasons, / They are come about, and won to the true side.

• (to happen) come to pass, come to be, occur, transpire; See also Thesaurus:happen