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
  • Employees may need mental-health or substance-use support but encounter barriers when trying to locate an appropriate provider.
    — Soniya Bopache, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The version using incorrect memory repeatedly encountered the same obstacle and never completed the journey.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • The couple met in 2018 through a Mormon dating app and tied the knot the next year, before welcoming their first child, Nora, in November 2021.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Whether you’re headed to a Saturday tailgate, taking a leaf-peeping nature walk, or just meeting friends for dinner, there’s something for everyone.
    — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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