stumble (upon)

verb

Definition of stumble (upon)next
as in to encounter
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face stumbled upon an old acquaintance at the airport

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumble (upon)
  1. encounter
  2. meet
Verb
  • Longer hikes often require a minimum of six walkers due to the possibility of encountering aforementioned bears.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In Eagle-Vail, CPW is also investigating after a bear encountered a person at an apartment complex, resulting in a minor injury.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • Where sacred meets celestial Science meets religion in the Vatican Observatory, a centuries-old center of astronomical research.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Paramount Skydance representatives are expected to meet on Monday with the California Attorney General’s office to discuss a potential settlement of the states’ antitrust case, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of meet
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stumbles (upon)
stumble (upon)
stumbling
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Cite this Entry

“Stumble (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumble%20%28upon%29. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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