as in to find
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance
happened on the filming of a movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happen (on or upon)
Verb
-
The jury delivered their verdict on Wednesday, finding Read guilty on only one charge: operating a vehicle under the influence.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 June 2025 -
Pastor Donnie Swaggart, 70, said his father was found about 8 a.m. at his home and revived before being taken to a local hospital.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
Researchers with the organization scanned 700 miles of Lake Michigan using sonar technology and used models to recreate the weather patterns that Flight 2501 would have encountered the night of the crash.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
28 June 2025
-
The law also gave the Advocate the authority and responsibility to make Congress aware of recurring, unresolved problems and difficulties taxpayers encounter in dealing with the IRS.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
But this framing backfired by coming across as legalistic and materialistic.—
Omar G. Encarnación,
Time,
26 June 2025
-
After that, Blunstone and Schwartzman come across the pond for seven more screenings — starting July 9 in New York City — that, in addition to the Q&As, will also feature performances of Zombies songs by Blunstone backed by Schwartzman’s band Rooney, which has opened for the Zombies in the past.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
24 June 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Happen (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happen%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share