as in finds
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 happens (on or upon)
Verb
-
Loose, gestural ink drawings sit alongside still lifes of treasured objects, flea market finds are arranged like miniature stage sets, and candid snapshots of her Milan existence are collaged with painterly abandon.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
24 Mar. 2026 -
For her part, Alesia finds Daisy, who is up to here with being made to play principal while managing these two.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has made a habit of going off script during televised Oval Office encounters with foreign leaders.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Her third feature, Dora, is said to center on a young woman carrying physical and emotional scars who encounters another woman in a seaside village, setting the stage for a slow, transformative healing process.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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
“Happens (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happens%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
