bumped into

USAGE SUMMARY

"bumped into" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of accidentally running into someone or something. Example sentence: I was walking around the corner and I bumped into an old friend from high school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I bumped into Gravy.

The New Yorker

She bumped into furniture.

The New York Times

"You bumped into me.

The New York Times - Style

Everybody bumped into everyone.

The New York Times - Magazine

Just then, a woman bumped into Marc.

The New Yorker

I bumped into him at one point.

The New York Times

I bumped into Roberto Mancini during qualifying.

Independent

Enfield recently bumped into Mandelson.

The Guardian

(The boy doesn't believe me).

The New Yorker

John's players they bumped into.

The New York Times - Sports

Stewart, he said, simply bumped into him.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bumped into" to convey a casual, unplanned meeting. It's suitable for informal contexts and narratives where the encounter is a minor, often surprising, event.

Common error

While alternatives like "encountered" exist, using them in casual contexts can sound stilted. Stick to "bumped into" for a natural, conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bumped into" is as a phrasal verb, acting as the predicate of a sentence. It describes an action, specifically an unexpected or accidental meeting. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bumped into" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe an unplanned or accidental encounter. As Ludwig AI states, its usage is correct and suitable for describing the action of unexpectedly meeting someone or something. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it carries a neutral register making it appropriate for various forms of communication. For alternative expressions, consider "ran across", "came across", or "stumbled upon" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came across

Implies finding something or someone without specifically looking for them.

ran across

Indicates a chance encounter, similar to "bumped into" but with a slightly different emphasis on the movement.

met unexpectedly

More formal, highlighting the unplanned nature of the meeting.

chanced upon

Similar to "stumbled upon", suggesting a fortunate accident.

stumbled upon

Suggests finding something or someone unexpectedly, implying a degree of surprise.

encountered by chance

Emphasizes the randomness of the meeting.

met incidentally

Highlights that the meeting was not the primary purpose of the activity.

found unexpectedly

Highlights finding something or someone without previous intention.

collided with

Focuses on the physical aspect of the meeting, often implying a minor impact.

intersected with

A more formal way to describe an unexpected meeting or crossing of paths.

FAQs

What does "bumped into" mean?

"Bumped into" means to meet someone or find something unexpectedly or by chance.

How can I use "bumped into" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I "bumped into" an old friend at the grocery store."

What can I say instead of "bumped into"?

You can use alternatives like "ran across", "came across", or "stumbled upon" depending on the context.

Is "bumped in to" correct instead of "bumped into"?

"Bumped into" is the correct phrasal verb. "Bumped in to" is grammatically incorrect.