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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.

A big reason is psychological: It takes lots of evidence to convince people something unthinkable might be about to happen like major banks collapsing, a pandemic or actual fuel shortages.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Gilead will pay $3.15 billion in upfront cash when the deal closes, which is expected to happen in the second quarter.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

“It doesn’t usually happen because moviemaking is a business and you have to have names and sell it,” Ortiz says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

“Aw, Daisy,” I said, “didn’t anything happen to us. We just had a little fight with those monkeys and they bit us a few times. That’s all.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls