To discover or encounter something completely by chance.
Find something by accident when you weren't looking for it.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To find or encounter something interesting or important by chance, without specifically looking for it.
"While browsing a second-hand bookshop, he stumbled upon a first edition signed by the author."
I stumbled upon this on the internet.
— Common informal usage, widely attributed in online discourse; specific single citation unavailable.
To stumble (trip) upon something — physically tripping over an object.
Find something by accident when you weren't looking for it.
One of the most common of the 'stumble + preposition' discovery phrases. Slightly more formal and literary than 'stumble across'. Widely used in journalism, storytelling, and everyday speech. 'Upon' can also be spelled 'on' with no change in meaning.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "stumble upon" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.