hit (upon)

Definition of hit (upon)next
as in to find
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance the popular belief that Sir Isaac Newton hit upon his understanding of gravity at the sight of an apple falling from a tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit (upon)
Verb
  • Recent grocery store closures have rocked the north side of Milwaukee, where growing food deserts – areas where quality food is difficult to find – have left entire neighborhoods without ready access to food.
    Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For his courtroom outbursts, Davis found Thompson in contempt of court and added a little more than four and a half years to his sentence.
    Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In 2024, Chen Goldberg encountered a problem familiar to many senior operators.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The majority of people the students encountered were supportive.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Hit (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit%20%28upon%29. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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