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.

This sounds like the kind of thing that is more likely to happen when you are being taped for a TV show.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

It’s an extremely chance meeting, but these kinds of things happen all the time.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

“People are not sitting home waiting and wondering what’s going to happen, which is a very different phenomenon.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 5, 2026

"People start asking themselves what will happen when they go," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The only thing you knew for sure was that something was going to happen, which made things exciting.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el