come upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"come upon" is a common phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe when one discovers or encounters something by chance. For example, "I was surprised when I came upon the ruined temple in the middle of the forest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can just open it randomly, and any line I come upon makes me laugh.

The New York Times - Books

Where did you come upon that word?

The New Yorker

How did you come upon Charley Harper?

The New York Times

Ah, God it's winter come upon us.

The New Yorker

Our Mr. Terwilleger has come upon solution.

The New Yorker

It's a solution vertebrates didn't come upon, humans didn't come upon, but insects did".

The New York Times - Science

Often you come upon unexpected but illuminating juxtapositions of objects.

The New York Times - Arts

How does he come upon the idea of Satyagraha?

The New York Times

And then you can come upon your own conclusion".

The New Yorker

That's not how I come upon a role.

The New Yorker

Fearfully, he removed it, lest the Germans come upon it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come upon" to describe instances where a discovery or encounter is accidental or unexpected, adding a touch of serendipity to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "come upon" when describing planned meetings or deliberate discoveries. It implies chance, so it's not suitable when the encounter was intentional.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "come upon" functions primarily as a verb of discovery or encounter. It indicates that someone or something has found or met someone or something else, often unexpectedly. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to describe encountering objects, ideas, or situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come upon" is a very common phrasal verb used to describe the act of finding or encountering something unexpectedly. As Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in news, media, and general narrative contexts. While suitable for many situations, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic writing. Remember to reserve "come upon" for instances of chance encounters, avoiding its use when describing planned or deliberate discoveries. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stumble across

Implies an accidental or unplanned discovery.

encounter unexpectedly

Highlights the surprise element of the meeting.

discover by chance

Emphasizes the role of luck in the finding.

happen to find

Suggests a casual and unplanned discovery.

chance upon

Similar to stumble across, but slightly more formal.

light upon

Implies finding something after searching, but not deliberately.

run into unexpectedly

Focuses on the suddenness of the encounter.

meet unexpectedly

A more general term for an unplanned meeting.

detect incidentally

Highlights that discovering was not the main intention.

locate unexpectedly

Emphasizes that the act of locating something was surprising.

FAQs

How can I use "come upon" in a sentence?

You can use "come upon" to describe finding something unexpectedly. For example, "I came upon an old photo album while cleaning the attic".

What can I say instead of "come upon"?

You can use alternatives like "stumble across", "discover by chance", or "happen to find" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "come upon" in a formal context?

"Come upon" is generally acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, but alternatives like "encounter unexpectedly" might be preferred in very formal writing.

What's the difference between "come upon" and "find"?

"Come upon" implies an accidental discovery, while "find" can refer to both accidental and deliberate discoveries. If you're implying chance, "come upon" is more suitable.