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.

“It may happen faster than we can adjust to it,” he cautioned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

"That's what will happen here, I'm sure of it," says one man walking along Sparkhill's Stratford Road.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

But that wasn’t going to happen this time around.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

If it can happen to a stadium-filler like Álvarez, it can happen to anyone.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

I had no more than gotten the words out of my mouth when something did happen.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls