stumble across

USAGE SUMMARY

"stumble across" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you discover something, often something unexpected, in an accidental or chance way. For example: "I stumbled across the perfect dress while browsing the racks at the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just wander until you stumble across one?

The Guardian

A Nobel Prize is "something you stumble across," he added.

Princeton University

Sometimes, I stumble across some pretty unique local events.

The New York Times

In Blue's press release, you stumble across a cute girl.

The Guardian - Opinion

Maybe I would stumble across some Welsh graffiti.

The Guardian - Travel

But even he can stumble across real surprises.

The New York Times - Arts

There's no way you could stumble across this place.

The Guardian - Travel

You just have to stumble across a cave of them.

The New York Times

Q. Do you and your friends ever stumble across mysteries?

The New York Times

On any given day you can expect to stumble across a crowd of banner-waving protesters.

The Economist

They stumble across the history in schools or debates on Israel and want to know more.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stumble across" to describe unexpected discoveries or encounters, especially when the finding is somewhat accidental or serendipitous. It adds a sense of chance to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "stumble across" in very formal or professional writing where a more precise term like "discover" or "encounter" might be more appropriate. The phrase implies a lack of intention, which may not suit every situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stumble across" is that of a phrasal verb. It's used to describe the action of finding or encountering something unexpectedly or by chance, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

17%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "stumble across" is a common and accepted way to describe finding something or meeting someone unexpectedly, according to Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Alternatives like "come across" and "happen upon" can be used for similar meanings, but "discover" is more appropriate for formal settings. Remember to use "stumble across" when you want to emphasize the accidental nature of a finding or encounter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come across

This alternative is a more general term for finding something unexpectedly.

happen upon

This alternative emphasizes the chance nature of the discovery.

chance upon

This alternative highlights the accidental aspect of finding something.

run into

This alternative is often used when unexpectedly meeting someone.

discover by chance

This alternative clarifies that the discovery was not intentional.

find unexpectedly

This alternative focuses on the surprise of the finding.

light upon

This alternative is more literary and suggests a sudden realization or discovery.

meet by accident

This alternative is specific to encountering people unintentionally.

encounter unexpectedly

This alternative formalizes the idea of an unplanned meeting or finding.

detect incidentally

This alternative is more formal and scientific, implying an observation made during other activities.

FAQs

How can I use "stumble across" in a sentence?

You can use "stumble across" to describe finding something unexpectedly, like "I "stumbled across" a rare book at a used bookstore" or meeting someone by chance, such as "I "stumbled across" an old friend at the grocery store".

What can I say instead of "stumble across"?

You can use alternatives like "come across", "happen upon", or "run into" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "stumble upon" instead of "stumble across"?

Yes, "stumble upon" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "stumble across". They both convey the same meaning of finding something unexpectedly.

Which is more formal, "discover" or "stumble across"?

"Discover" is generally more formal than "stumble across". "Stumble across" implies a more accidental or unplanned finding, while "discover" can suggest a more deliberate search or investigation.