What Is Another Way to Say “Came Across”?

Looking for synonyms for came across? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say came across.

  • Encountered
  • Stumbled upon
  • Discovered
  • Found
  • Chanced upon
  • Unearthed
  • Came upon
  • Happened upon
  • Ran into
  • Located
  • Detected
  • Noticed
  • Uncovered
  • Spotted
  • Identified

Want to learn how to say came across professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Encountered

Appropriate Use: For unexpected or unplanned meetings or findings.
Example: “During the survey, the team encountered a rare species of bird.”

2. Stumbled upon

Appropriate Use: Informal, indicating a chance discovery.
Example: “He stumbled upon a valuable antique while renovating the house.”

3. Discovered

Appropriate Use: For finding something significant, often used in scientific or historical contexts.
Example: “The archaeologist discovered ancient ruins beneath the city.”

4. Found

Appropriate Use: A general term for locating something that was searched for or happened upon.
Example: “She found a crucial error in the code during the review.”

5. Chanced upon

Appropriate Use: Similar to ‘stumbled upon’, implying a fortunate and unplanned discovery.
Example: “He chanced upon an important business contact at the conference.”

6. Unearthed

Appropriate Use: Often used for discoveries made by digging or researching.
Example: “Researchers unearthed new evidence about the historical event.”

7. Came upon

Appropriate Use: For coming across something, especially unexpectedly.
Example: “While hiking, they came upon a hidden waterfall.”

8. Happened upon

Appropriate Use: Implies a fortuitous and unplanned discovery.
Example: “She happened upon a rare book at the local flea market.”

9. Ran into

Appropriate Use: Informal, often used for unexpectedly meeting someone.
Example: “I ran into an old colleague at the airport.”

10. Located

Appropriate Use: More deliberate than ‘found’, indicating the successful outcome of a search.
Example: “The team successfully located the missing research data.”

11. Detected

Appropriate Use: Often used in a technical or scientific context, implying discovery through investigation or instrumentation.
Example: “The sensor detected high levels of pollution in the water.”

12. Noticed

Appropriate Use: For observing or recognizing something, often casually.
Example: “She noticed a discrepancy in the financial report.”

13. Uncovered

Appropriate Use: Indicates revealing or discovering something hidden.
Example: “The investigation uncovered evidence of fraud.”

14. Spotted

Appropriate Use: For quickly noticing or identifying something or someone, often from a distance.
Example: “He spotted a rare bird while birdwatching in the woods.”

15. Identified

Appropriate Use: For recognizing and being able to name or describe something or someone.
Example: “The scientist identified a new strain of bacteria in the sample.”

Linda Brown