hit upon
Chance to find
Hit upon means to discover or think of something, usually by chance or after searching: She hit upon the perfect solution while showering.
The phrase suggests a moment of arrival rather than methodical effort—you hit upon an idea the way you might stumble upon a path.
After weeks of experimentation, they finally hit upon a formula that worked.
discover
Lose footing momentarily
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
- findLocate through effort
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
- come acrossFind accidentally
serendipity · breakthrough · revelation · epiphany · eureka · detect · encounter · luck into
stumble
Lose footing momentarily
come across · serendipity · breakthrough · revelation · epiphany · eureka · detect · encounter · luck into · spot
conceive
Form a mental notion
- formulateCreate methodically
- think upInvent through imagination
- come up withTo invent or devise
invent · contrive · brainstorm · innovate · concoct · dream up · cook up · hatch · envision · conceptualize
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out
- found synonymsfound, discovered, uncovered, unearthed, located
- inventinvent, devise, create, conceive, come up with
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, grasp, fathom, follow
- arrive atreach, come to, get to, pull into
- chew overchew, ruminate, mull over, ponder, contemplate