Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for happen.
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.

“We need to integrate them and connect them together, but that can happen quite fast. They don’t have to get imported from some other place.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

This isn’t meant to reduce Bertei’s work or what she accomplishes; it’s meant to point out that this is how it should actually happen all of the time, but rarely does.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

It didn’t happen right away this time, but investors who held through March’s market tumult are finding that the classic geopolitical playbook for the U.S. equity market is finally starting to pay off.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

That’s scant consolation for those hoping to fly somewhere this summer—unless they also happen to own Delta stock.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The Cobra thing was supposed to happen the next day, but he hadn’t said a word about it all week, so I wasn’t sure his uncle was even coming.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott