Phrase guide

chance upon

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɑːns əˌpɒn/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃæns-/
  • General-American: /ˈt͡ʃæns əˌpɑn/
  • General-American: /-ˌpɔn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To find (someone or something) by chance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chance on, come across, happen on, stumble upon

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

find unexpectedly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
  • she struck a goldmine
  • The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fall upon, strike, come upon, light upon, come across, chance on, happen upon, attain, discover

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: find, regain

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: слу́чвам на (slúčvam na) — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Bulgarian: слу́ча на (slúča na) — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Greek: τυχαίνω (tychaíno) — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Hungarian: belebotlik — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Hungarian: ráakad — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Hungarian: rábukkan — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Māori: matawhaia — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Māori: tūpono — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: natrafiać — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: natrafić — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: natykać się — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: natknąć się — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: napotykać — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: napotkać — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: wpadać — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Polish: wpaść — to find (someone or something) by chance
  • Russian: натолкну́ться (natolknútʹsja) — to find (someone or something) by chance