What are the definitions of “stumble upon”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Find something accidentally.
I STUMBLED UPON these photos when I was clearing my room up.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “stumble upon”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb stumble upon is to find something accidentally or unexpectedly. It often refers to discovering something by chance while doing something else.
What are the different verb forms of “stumble upon”?
| Root Verb | stumble upon |
| Third Person Singular Present | stumbles upon |
| Present Participle | stumbling upon |
| Simple Past | stumbled upon |
| Past Participle | stumbled upon |
Example
While walking in the forest, I stumbled upon a hidden waterfall.
Example
She often stumbles upon interesting articles while browsing the internet.
Example
He is always stumbling upon new ideas for his art projects.
Example
Yesterday, they stumbled upon a rare antique at the flea market.
Example
The hidden treasure was stumbled upon by a group of hikers.
What kind of phrasal verb is “stumble upon”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“stumble upon” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
I stumbled upon an old diary in the attic.
Example
She stumbled upon a great deal at the store.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“stumble upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
I stumbled upon an old diary in the attic.
Example
She stumbled upon a great deal at the store.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “stumble upon”?
Good things to know
Does “stumble upon” have an informal or formal tone?
Stumble upon is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal writing or presentations, depending on the specific context.
