1 C1 idiomatic informal
To encounter or find something or someone unexpectedly.
"I bumped across an interesting article about medieval trade routes while doing my research."
inseparable
bump across
C1 informal inseparable transitive
To encounter or discover something or someone by chance.
In plain English
To find something or meet someone without planning to.
What does "bump across" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically collide with something while crossing.
Actually means
To find something or meet someone without planning to.
Usage tip
Rare variant of 'bump into' or 'come across'. Not widely used and may sound unusual to many native speakers. Learners are advised to use 'come across' or 'bump into' instead.
Words that pair with "bump across"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
article old friend reference information problem
How to conjugate "bump across"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bump across
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bumps across
he/she/it
Past simple
bumped across
yesterday
Past participle
bumped across
have + pp
-ing form
bumping across
continuous
Hear "bump across" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bump across" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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