Definition

Verb (intransitive): 1. To become fully understood or emotionally realized: To be grasped by the mind or felt deeply, often after a period of time or upon reflection. This meaning describes a sudden or gradual moment of comprehension or emotional impact. * It finally came home to him how much his words had hurt her. * The true cost of the war came home to the public with the publication of the photographs.

Usage Examples

• The realization that he was alone in the city suddenly came home to him.
• The importance of family comes home to most people as they get older.
• When I saw the damage, the reality of the storm came home to me.

Advanced Usage

• "come home to roost": (Idiom) Used to say that bad things a person has done in the past are now causing problems for them. This is a related idiom but uses "come home" in a specific, fixed phrase.
  • His lies eventually came home to roost and he lost everyone's trust.

Variants and Related Words

• Hit home: (Phrasal verb) A very close synonym meaning to be fully understood, especially in a way that causes an emotional reaction.
  • The documentary about climate change really hit home.
• Sink in: (Phrasal verb) To be gradually understood or realized.
  • The news took a moment to sink in.

Synonyms

• Become clear
• Register (as in, "The danger didn't register with him.")
• Daunt (in the sense of "it dawned on him")

Related Phrasal Verbs / Idioms

• Bring something home to someone: (Phrasal verb) To make someone understand something fully, especially something unpleasant.
  • The accident brought home to us the importance of wearing seatbelts.

Verb

1. become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
   • It dawned on him that she had betrayed him
   • she was penetrated with sorrow