chances upon
Finds by accident
To chance upon something is to encounter it unexpectedly or by accident: I chanced upon an old letter while cleaning the attic.
The phrase suggests discovery without intent—finding something you weren't looking for.
Chances upon is the third-person singular form: She rarely chances upon anything useful at garage sales.
- stumble acrossFind unexpectedly, unintentionally
- comes acrossFinds unexpectedly or projects
- happenstanceUnplanned circumstance
- happy accidentUnintended but beneficial event
- wanderMove without fixed direction
bump into · luck · serendipity · lucky break · blind luck · roam · coincidence · epiphany · revelation · synchronicity · spot · realization · find · path · come across · cross paths · fluke · locate
intentionality of discovery
chances uponlooks for
Tries to find
tracks down · pursues · researches · investigates · stalks
chance, chances, upon, chanced, chancing, mischance, perchance