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.

If the 2021 viral moment didn’t happen, it might not have grown at the same pace.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

We apologize for bringing arithmetic into this–we’ll try not to let it happen again.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

But then he said it doesn’t matter anyway because the strait would magically open itself up at the end of hostilities, which he claimed will happen “soon.”

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

She thinks it will take until the end of the year for that to happen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Every time I thought I’d put my annoyance with that girl behind me, something like this would happen and it would all come rushing back.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

happen

Example Sentences

Related Words