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Dictionary.com
Definitions

run across

VERB
bump into
Synonyms
STRONGEST
come across meet up with run into
WEAK
chance upon encounter hit light light upon luck meet stumble tumble
VERB
encounter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bear bump into come across come upon confront detect experience face find meet run into suffer turn up
STRONG
close descry espy front sustain undergo
WEAK
alight upon chance upon cross the path fall in with hit upon meet up with rub eyeballs run smack into
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid dodge lose miss pass by
WEAK
evade retreat run away
VERB
find
Synonyms
STRONGEST
detect discover encounter identify locate meet notice recover spot strike turn up uncover unearth
STRONG
collar corral descry discern distinguish espy expose observe perceive pinpoint recognize sight
WEAK
arrive at bring to light bump into chance upon come across come up with come upon dig up fall in with ferret out happen upon hit upon lay fingers on light upon make out run into scare up smoke out stumble upon track down trip on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid leave lose miss overlook pass by
STRONG
misunderstand neglect
WEAK
fail fall short forfeit
VERB
meet
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contact face find greet see
STRONG
accost collide confront cross encounter engage experience grapple hit light luck salute stumble tumble tussle
WEAK
brush against bump into chance on come across come up against dig up fall in with get-together make a meet meet face to face rendezvous with rub eyeballs run into run up against touch shoulders
Antonyms
STRONG
avoid evade let go lose shun
WEAK
cancel dodge miss
VERB
stumble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bump chance discover encounter tumble
STRONG
find hit light luck meet
WEAK
blunder upon chance upon come across come up against fall upon light upon stub toe on turn up
Antonyms
STRONG
avoid fail lose miss pass by
WEAK
overlook

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Shadow fleet routes sometimes appear to run across land.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Cause and effect run across many scales at once, from ion channels to dendrites to circuits to whole-brain dynamics, and these levels do not behave like independent modules stacked in layers.

From Science Daily • Dec. 24, 2025

On Christmas Day in 2017, he saw a small bear cub run across his yard.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

He was hurling just as efficiently as he did against the Dodgers on May 16 when he limited the Angels’ crosstown foes to just one run across 6 ⅔ innings.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2025

She must of run across the cemetery and gone out through the woods at the back.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns