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

An Orthodox Jewish day school isn’t a secular school that happens to be operated by Jews.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Recent history shows what happens when Santa Ana winds mix with a late-season fire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

As it happens, right around that time a Venezuelan billionaire banker named Julio Herrera Velutini wanted a pardon.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

There seems to be a real fear of the unknown because we are often unsure what happens on the other end once we click "apply".

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

“Just please be careful. I mean, if something happens to you, who’s gonna do my hair?”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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