befall

[bih-fawl] / bɪˈfɔl /

VERB

happen to; take place

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ensue materialize transpire

STRONG

action bechance betide break chance cook develop fall follow gel go hap happen jell occur shake smoke supervene

WEAK

come down come off come to pass cook up a storm cook with gas fall out go down

Antonyms

STRONG

stay stop

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.

Sanctions didn’t make life easier, he says, but they didn’t befall Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Jo's brother Jimmy said he "never imagined such a profound tragedy would ever befall our family".

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

It’s not the first calamity to befall the family in the West Bank.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

It was a tragic prophecy of what was to befall the couple's fifth child, Victoria.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

The children, still arguing, were unaware what horror would soon befall them.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman