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coming across

phrase

present participle of come across
as in finding
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance She came across an old photo album in a box in the basement.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coming across
  1. running into
  2. running against
  3. bumping into
Phrase
  • The Texas Democrat's appearance is the latest example of Talarico's campaign running into questions about how broadcast networks can cover candidates during an election.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The girls keep running into Lux (and to his nice new girlfriend) around town, and soon begin spending time with him on purpose.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of running into
Phrase
  • Earlier this summer, Jackson, a fifty-eight-year-old former logger and president of Maine’s state Senate, replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee running against Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent.
    — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Sand and Muhlbauer are running against Republicans Zach Lahn and Derek Wulf.
    — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of running against
Phrase
  • Servants called flappers are required to shake rattles in their ears to keep them from falling or bumping into things.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Over the past few days, the people at the front of the lines have gradually moved closer and closer to the courtroom, to the point where the doors can barely open without bumping into a throng of people.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of bumping into
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.

Browse Nearby Words

coming a cropper
coming across
coming across (as)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coming across.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coming%20across. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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