happen

[hap-uhn] / ˈhæp ən /

VERB

come to pass; occur

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appear arise arrive crop up develop fall go on hit materialize meet pass result take effect take place transpire

STRONG

befall betide bump chance down ensue eventuate follow issue light proceed recur shake smoke spring stumble supervene

WEAK

be found become a fact become known become of come about come after come into being come into existence come off luck present itself stumble upon turn out turn up what goes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cease disappear fail halt lose stop

STRONG

precede

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.

“That didn’t happen in this case, did it?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

So what might happen if athletic departments lost their tax-exempt, charitable status?

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

“People are not sitting home waiting and wondering what’s going to happen, which is a very different phenomenon.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 5, 2026

Women have a tendency to talk themselves “out of the big jobs,” and she didn’t want that to happen to her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

C.C. had already predicted in her head that this might happen, which is why she had placed the other items on the table.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

happen

Example Sentences

Related Words