stumble across/on/onto/upon

idiom

: to find or learn about (something) unexpectedly

I stumbled across/on/upon this book by chance.

We stumbled onto/across the ruins of an old fort.

They stumbled on/upon a bizarre plot.

He stumbled onto the truth.

Examples of stumble across/on/onto/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Avoiding expensive areas While some young Americans, like Craig, stumble on opportunities or get lucky otherwise, others have simply set their sights on something other than ownership. —

Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024 The film, set against the backdrop of modern-day Riyadh, centers on two paramedics who stumble upon a briefcase containing 2 million riyals. —

Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024 In the United States, shoppers may stumble upon vintages from two to seven years old. —

Jill Barth, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 During a comedic stop in Azerbaijan, Adil and Rayhan inadvertently stumble onto a film set, and Adil steps in for another actor. —

Stephen Saito, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stumble across/on/onto/upon

Cite this Entry

Style

“Stumble across/on/onto/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stumble%20across%2Fon%2Fonto%2Fupon. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation