as in finds
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance
the popular belief that Sir Isaac Newton hit upon his understanding of gravity at the sight of an apple falling from a tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hits (upon)
Verb
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That decline in leadership shows up in authoritative surveys like the Pew Research Center’s benchmark poll, which finds that trust in government to do what’s right is hovering near historic lows.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026 -
Her character sings, cries and endures a Greek tragedy of a downfall, but instead of being a caricature, Chastain finds the soul of a complex, good-hearted woman.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Each operates as an autonomous theoretical terrain and evolves with the gaze that encounters them.—
Elinore Weil,
Artforum,
4 Mar. 2026
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The program is deemed successful, Marine officials said, if a Marine and their family can transition to living independently, or if the servicemember encounters a setback and contacts the call center for assistance.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hits (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hits%20%28upon%29. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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