happens

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.

See Examples For:

happens

The country is “the bedrock of the global oil system and anything that happens there is of great importance,” says Jim Burkhard, a vice president at S&P Global Energy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

“I’m sorry to say, it happens, especially in Oklahoma.”

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

But it is how he deals with those defeats that will decide what happens next.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Regardless of what happens with “Misty Green” commercially or throughout awards season, Eleazar will continue tending her steady climb.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

It’s an unspoken rule that you don’t talk about what happens during your rite.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy