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

"He was carrying something but that happens a lot," Carrick said.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

This is what happens when New York’s Finest are allowed to do their jobs and empowered by a highly competent and technologically-savvy leader at One Police Plaza.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Although this approach is practical and widely used, it cannot fully explain what happens during digestion.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Or “Life doesn’t stop because something happens to you.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

“That’s what happens in all the best stories for kids!”

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness