happens (upon)

verb

present tense third-person singular of happen (upon)
as in encounters
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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for happens (upon)
  1. encounters
  2. meets
Verb
  • The character of Hichem is an upright and honest man, who encounters financial hurdles.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Through four series, Spartacus encounters brutal battles, heart-rending betrayals, and more.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounters
Verb
  • Rudolf is the standout pacemaker in Europe, touring the continent to be a ‘rabbit’ for top athletes, most notably at Diamond League meets.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Illinois Tollway board, which meets today, is expected to green-light a steep increase in tolls.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of meets
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.

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happenstances
happens (upon)
happen (upon)
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Cite this Entry

“Happens (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happens%20%28upon%29. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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