# chance upon

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/chance-upon
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To find (someone or something) by chance.

## Examples

- I happened to chance upon a rare coin in the park.
- While walking through the old market, I chanced upon a beautiful painting that I had been looking for for years.
- During his research in the dusty archives, the historian chanced upon a collection of letters that revealed the truth about the forgotten king.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.