Phrasal verbs "come upon" vs "decide upon"

Differences between come upon and decide upon

Come upon means to find or discover something unexpectedly, while decide upon means to make a decision after considering options or possibilities.

Meanings and Definitions: come upon vs decide upon

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Come upon

  • 1Find by chance.

    I CAME UPON the book in a little second - hand bookshop in Dorset.

Decide upon

  • 1Choose, select.

    Jane spent a long time looking at houses before she bought one, but eventually DECIDED UPON one near her office.

Usage Examples: come upon, decide upon in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

come upon

Example

While walking in the forest, I came upon a hidden waterfall.

Example

She often comes upon interesting items at the flea market.

decide upon

Example

After much thought, they decided upon the blue paint for the living room.

Example

She decides upon her outfit for the day after checking the weather.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Come upon

To find or discover something unexpectedly, usually by accident.

Example

While hiking in the woods, they stumbled upon an abandoned cabin.

To find or discover something unexpectedly, usually by luck or coincidence.

Example

She chanced upon a rare book at the flea market.

To come across or meet someone or something unexpectedly.

Example

During their trip, they encountered many interesting people and places.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Decide upon

To select or decide between two or more options.

Example

After reviewing all the options, she had to make a choice about which college to attend.

To decide on a particular option or choice after considering other possibilities.

Example

They finally settled on a restaurant after debating for hours.

To choose or select a particular option or course of action.

Example

He decided to opt for a career in finance instead of law.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “decide”

Phrasal Verbs with “upon”

Differences in come upon vs decide upon: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: come upon or decide upon?

In daily conversation, people use come upon less often than decide upon. This is because come upon is used for more specific situations where someone finds something by chance. Decide upon is a more common phrase used when making decisions in various contexts.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of come upon and decide upon

Come upon and decide upon are both informal phrases suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. However, decide upon can be used in more formal settings like business or academic contexts.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of come upon and decide upon

The tone of come upon and decide upon can differ based on context. Come upon often carries a surprised or curious tone when related to discovering something unexpected, while decide upon typically has a thoughtful and decisive tone, especially when referring to making important decisions.

come upon & decide upon: Synonyms and Antonyms

Come upon

Synonyms

Decide upon

Synonyms

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