What Is Another Way to Say “Run Into”?

Looking for synonyms for run into? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say run into.

  • Encounter
  • Meet
  • Come across
  • Bump into
  • Stumble upon
  • Happen upon
  • Cross paths with
  • Chance upon
  • Run across
  • Collide with
  • Strike
  • Crash into
  • Smash into
  • Clash with
  • Tangle with

Want to learn how to say run into professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Encounter

“Encounter” is used when unexpectedly coming across someone or something, often in a neutral or surprising context.

Example: “During the field research, the team encountered a rare species previously thought to be extinct.”

2. Meet

“Meet” implies a chance or unplanned coming together of individuals, possibly in a professional setting.

Example: “I happened to meet our CEO in the elevator and discussed the upcoming project briefly.”

3. Come Across

“Come Across” is used when finding or discovering someone or something by chance.

Example: “While auditing the accounts, I came across an irregularity that needs further investigation.”

4. Bump Into

“Bump Into” is a colloquial expression for accidentally meeting someone, often used in informal or casual professional interactions.

Example: “I bumped into our head of department at the coffee shop and we briefly discussed the new marketing strategy.”

5. Stumble Upon

“Stumble Upon” conveys discovering something unexpectedly, often leading to a significant finding or opportunity.

Example: “The researcher stumbled upon a groundbreaking discovery while analyzing the data.”

6. Happen Upon

“Happen Upon” is similar to stumbling upon, suggesting a fortuitous or unexpected discovery.

Example: “We happened upon a potential solution to the problem during our brainstorming session.”

7. Cross Paths With

“Cross Paths With” describes the act of meeting someone unexpectedly, often in a transient or brief manner.

Example: “I crossed paths with several industry leaders at the conference last week.”

8. Chance Upon

“Chance Upon” indicates a serendipitous or accidental discovery, often leading to unexpected opportunities.

Example: “She chanced upon a networking event that turned out to be pivotal for her career.”

9. Run Across

“Run Across” is used when one unexpectedly finds something or someone, particularly in the course of one’s activities.

Example: “In my research, I often run across outdated information that can still be useful.”

10. Collide With

“Collide With” is typically used in a literal sense, indicating a physical impact, but can also be metaphorical in professional contexts.

Example: “Our marketing campaign ideas collided with the client’s expectations, leading to a creative brainstorming session.”

11. Strike

“Strike” implies encountering something significant or having an idea suddenly.

Example: “An innovative approach struck me while reviewing the current workflow process.”

12. Crash Into

“Crash Into” often has a literal physical context, but in professional settings, it can metaphorically describe an abrupt encounter with a problem or situation.

Example: “We crashed into a major obstacle during the project’s final phase.”

13. Smash Into

“Smash Into” is generally used for physical impacts but can be used metaphorically in business to indicate a sudden, disruptive encounter.

Example: “The sudden change in market trends smashed into our sales projections, forcing a strategy rethink.”

14. Clash With

“Clash With” is used when there’s a conflict or disagreement, often in ideas, plans, or personalities in a professional environment.

Example: “My proposal for the budget allocation clashed with the finance department’s views.”

15. Tangle With

“Tangle With” suggests getting involved in a complex or difficult situation, often unexpectedly.

Example: “We found ourselves tangling with regulatory issues during the new product launch.”

Linda Brown