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

What’s much more difficult to grasp, even for those of us now alive, is how we wound up in a world where that might happen.

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

But one well-informed Serbian source told the BBC this could happen as early as Monday, when Serbian authorities are expected to release the first results of their investigation.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

“Aw, Grandpa,” I said, “nothing like that will ever happen to me. I’d be lucky if I had a grasshopper named after me.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

happen

Example Sentences

Related Words