as in encounters
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
happened upon the hotel manager in the lobby and promptly complained about the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happens (upon)
Verb
-
But the score ends with the shock of humanity, as Humboldt encounters enslaved Cubans.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026 -
Past research shows that when a person encounters a questionable headline, several things typically happen.—
Walter Quattrociocchi,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then, when a child returns to the clinic a year later, the coordinator meets with them again.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
If the florals aren’t convincing enough, the base is grounded with patchouli and pink pepper for a spicy meets woody element that balances any overarching fruity sweetness.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Happens (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happens%20%28upon%29. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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