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

And she said, “Because nothing ever happens with these things and my time is valuable. It’s a way of showing myself self-respect.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

That was the same month, as it happens, when Meloni publicly broke with Trump over the latter’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026

It appears as if some people are going about their daily business while a F1 race happens around them.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

I thought I must get it to New York before something happens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

It happens now, when he looks up to find that, once again, I can’t stop myself from staring at him, and he suddenly glances down at the hose in his hand.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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