as in finds
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 hits (upon)
Verb
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That’s later, though, after Angie manages to jam her finger in the door while wearing an inflatable seahorse costume and the whole crew somehow finds the time to get ready in really elaborate zombie makeup.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2026 -
My favorite finds are scent twins with luxe brands like Le Labo, Chanel, Dior, and Gucci—just to name drop a few.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When a kid encounters a difficult teacher, a parent might want to intervene.—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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Every few years, usually in December, the system encounters a Dunkelflaute — an energy drought lasting a week or two, with little wind and little sun.—
Alex Pavlak,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hits (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hits%20%28upon%29. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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