as in to encounter
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
happened upon the hotel manager in the lobby and promptly complained about the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happen (upon)
Verb
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An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could end up more dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 June 2026 -
One common problem growers encounter is the wilting of plants and foliage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Suarez also discussed the experience of joining one of baseball’s most storied organizations after departing Philadelphia, then watching as both teams failed to meet expectations to start the year.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
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Trump made the threat on Sunday, even as Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland for the first talks under the interim accord.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Happen (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happen%20%28upon%29. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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