Synonyms of encountering

encountering

verb

present participle of encounter

1

as in confronting

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face

quite unexpectedly encountered our next-door neighbor while vacationing in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confronting
• meeting
• catching
• greeting
• happening (upon)
• running into
• stumbling (upon)
• facing
• running across
• bumping into
• running upon
• accosting
• crossing paths (with)
• chancing (upon)
• saluting
• crossing
• passing
• crisscrossing
• crashing (into)
• colliding (with)
• hitting (upon)
• tumbling (to)
• lighting (upon)
• reencountering
• remeeting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• escaping
• shaking
• evading
• dodging
• eluding
• shunning
• ducking

2

as in finding

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance

we encountered a host of unforeseen problems during the restoration of our 200-year-old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• finding
• meeting
• facing
• running against
• hitting (upon)
• happening (on or upon)
• discovering
• confronting
• stumbling (on or onto)
• running into
• lighting (on or upon)
• coming across
• tumbling (upon)
• pitching (upon)
• running across
• bumping into
• running upon
• chancing (upon)
• lucking (out, on, onto, or into)
• turning up
• striking

3

as in facing

to enter into contest or conflict with

the troops encountered bands of guerrilla fighters as they made their way across the desert

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facing
• meeting
• engaging
• battling
• fighting
• taking on
• opposing
• emulating
• contending
• rivaling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escaping
• evading
• retreating
• eluding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of encountering

Garner had unknowingly driven about 20 miles from Cherokee to Tuscumbia before encountering Thompson. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

According to the lawsuit, Walker began filming immigration agents in late March, after encountering a woman being detained in the San Francisco airport. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Working in the emergency room for the first time during her internal medicine clerkship feels like encountering a tsunami, as classroom knowledge and limited clinical experiences are suddenly, and forcefully, put to the test. — Tahneer Oksman, NPR, 23 July 2026

Nearly 75% of teens have seen online pornography and more than half are encountering this type of content as early as age 12, according to new research from Common Sense Media. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

The nightmare grows more and more fierce as guests venture through the haunted house, encountering ferocious Deadites around every turn before succumbing to the evil forces themselves. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 July 2026

Brittin told staff that the BBC was encountering the same financial pressures as government departments, private sector companies, and charities. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Like the book, the movie follows Greek king Odysseus (Matt Damon), who spends 10 years at war and another decade lost at sea, encountering cyclops, sirens and giants along the way. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 July 2026

And streaming has introduced Meyers’ films to younger viewers who are encountering them for the first time. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026