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happen (upon)

verb

Definition of happen (upon)next
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)
  1. encounter
  2. meet
  3. run across
Verb
  • Investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened inside the house, and Hartman said officers encountered inconsistencies while interviewing those who were there.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Older generations often bring wisdom, knowledge and experience in navigating situations that younger employees may encounter for the first time.
    — John Abusaid, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • The pope will meet seven French victims of abuse by Catholic clergy on Sunday in Lourdes.
    — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Use the objective points as ways to innovate on your idea and deliver a product that meets the needs of your audience.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • In 2024, Mandhana set the record for most international runs across formats by a woman and then beat her own record last year—a feat that contributed to her being crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of 2025.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 June 2026
  • The fan ran across to the three-point line where San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was standing, and appeared to try to take a selfie with the player.
    — Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Definition of run across
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

happens (upon)
happen (upon)
happily
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Happen (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happen%20%28upon%29. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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