Meaning of the word "come upon" in English

What does "come upon" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

come upon

US /kʌm əˈpɑːn/

UK /kʌm əˈpɑːn/

to find or meet by chance

Example:

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I came upon an old photo album while cleaning the attic.

•

As we walked through the forest, we suddenly came upon a hidden waterfall.

Synonym:

discover encounter stumble upon happen upon run across

to attack or affect suddenly and unexpectedly

Example:

•

A sudden storm came upon them while they were hiking.

•

A feeling of dread came upon him as he entered the old house.

Synonym:

befall overtake strike assail overwhelm

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