happen on
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To find something you were not looking for.
Literal meaning: To move onto something and have it occur by chance.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To find or meet someone or something unexpectedly and without planning.
"He happened on a fascinating article while flipping through an old magazine."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Interchangeable with 'happen upon'. Slightly literary or old-fashioned. Found in both British and American English but not highly frequent in modern everyday speech.
Commonly used with
solution idea place document person clue
Forms
Base
happen on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
happens on
he/she/it
Past simple
happened on
yesterday
Past participle
happened on
have + pp
-ing form
happening on
continuous
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