as in encountering
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 happening (upon)
Verb
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For this reason, the probability of encountering a descending elevator first is higher.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
21 Apr. 2026 -
The wayward high-schoolers of the HBO series are now young adults, encountering the difficulties that come with entering the real world and trying to establish themselves.—
Molly Lambert,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At a lawn party devoted to the game of cornhole, Clark flirts with Floyd’s wife and the two soon begin an affair, meeting for afternoon assignations at the local Quality Garden Suites.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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But there was a mountain high enough to keep film Ross from meeting Jackson.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Happening (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happening%20%28upon%29. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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