come upon

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come upon

The hikers come upon a clear path through the forest.

Definition

Verb (transitive) 1. To find or discover something or someone unexpectedly or by chance. 2. To take possession of something, especially property or an inheritance.

Usage

The verb "come upon" is used to describe the act of encountering or finding something without planning or searching for it. It often implies a sense of surprise or accident. In its second, more formal meaning, it refers to the legal or formal act of beginning to own or control something.

Examples
  • Finding unexpectedly:
    • While cleaning the attic, I came upon a box of my grandmother's old letters.
    • The researchers came upon a rare species of orchid deep in the forest.
  • Taking possession:
    • Upon his father's death, he came upon the family title and estate. (Formal/Legal)
Advanced Usage
  • "Come upon" can sometimes describe encountering a situation or a state of being.
    • We came upon a scene of complete chaos when we arrived.
  • The phrase often carries a slightly literary or narrative tone.
Variants and Related Words
  • Come across: A very common synonym for the "find unexpectedly" meaning.
    • I came across that word in a novel yesterday.
  • Stumble upon/across: Emphasizes the accidental nature of the discovery even more strongly.
    • He stumbled upon the solution while working on a different problem.
  • Chance upon: A formal synonym for finding by accident.
    • They chanced upon the perfect spot for a picnic.
Synonyms
  • Discover
  • Encounter
  • Find
  • Happen upon
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Come across: To find or meet by chance. (Very similar to the primary meaning of "come upon").
  • Come into: To inherit or receive something, especially money or property.
    • She came into a fortune when her aunt passed away.
Related Idioms
  • Strike upon: To discover or think of something suddenly.
    • After hours of thought, he finally struck upon a brilliant idea.
come upon

The hikers come upon a clear path through the forest.

Verb
  1. take possession of
    • She entered upon the estate of her rich relatives
  2. find unexpectedly
    • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
    • she struck a goldmine
    • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake

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