stumble across
Find by accident
To stumble across something is to find it by accident, without looking for it: I stumbled across an old photograph in the attic, She stumbled across the solution while researching something else.
The phrase suggests chance discovery rather than deliberate search.
Also stumble on or stumble upon.
Find something unknown
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
- uncoverReveal what's hidden
- detectNotice or discover
- revealMake something visible
expose · come upon · chance upon · light upon · happen upon · locate · spot · notice
Likelihood of occurrence
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
accidental · happenstance · luck · fluke · unplanned · unforeseen · unanticipated · fortuitous
discover
Find something unknown
reveal · expose · come upon · chance upon · light upon · happen upon · locate · spot · notice · observe
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
coincidence · accidental · happenstance · luck · fluke · unplanned · unforeseen · unanticipated · fortuitous · random
stumble acrossseek out
Try to find intentionally
hunt for · look for · track down · research · investigate
stumble acrossmiss
Fail to reach
overlook · lose · pass by · come up empty · look past
stumble acrossdig up
Uncover from underground
ferret out · root out · comb through · leave no stone unturned · hunt down
across, stumble, stumbling, stumbled, stumbles, stumbler, stumblingly