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Showing results for happen. Search instead for nonhappeni.
Definitions

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 performance will likely happen later this year after McKellen returns from New Zealand, where he’s making his return as Gandalf in Andy Serkis’ “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Villa have a five-point cushion over fifth-placed Liverpool, so it seems less likely to happen if Unai Emery's team win the Europa League.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

But after years here, he is certain of one thing: “Strange things happen on Nantucket.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

By identifying changes between photos captured before December 2009 and after December 2012, they were able to narrow down when the impact occurred, even though no one actually saw it happen.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

“Allowing something like that to happen under my supervision. Not properly disciplining Louisa for her indiscretion. And Louisa couldn’t come forward because she—because.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse