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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happens (upon)
Verb
-
But the score ends with the shock of humanity, as Humboldt encounters enslaved Cubans.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026 -
Past research shows that when a person encounters a questionable headline, several things typically happen.—
Walter Quattrociocchi,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Senate Appropriations Committee meets to discuss the state’s amended 2026 budget.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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Five different characters sing their hearts out, and each performer meets the vocal and emotional demands of their star turn with both power and subtlety.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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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 22 Feb. 2026.
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