bump into

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, preposition) to meet by chance; encounter unexpectedly

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bump into Idioms  

1. Also, bump against . Collide, come in contact with; same as bang into . For example, It's easy to bump into furniture in the dark . [Mid-1800s]

2. Encounter, meet by chance, as in While I was downtown, I bumped into George . [ Colloquial ; 1880s] Also see run into .

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Example Sentences

"Our approach is like taking a wide-angle camera inside the ballroom. Now we can see how the dancers are pairing up and paying attention to one another, so they don't bump into each other."

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

But they are really holding out to bump into a certain fellow Filipina in Indio.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

They can’t bump into each other or any of the 42 actors also rushing around getting in and out of costume.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

“What are you going to do if you bump into an ICE agent who is not having a good day and decides to profile you?” her parents ask her.

From Salon • Feb. 4, 2026

The bus bounced over a speed bump into the school driveway.

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• come across
• meet up with
• run into