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.

The podcast, the conversation behind what really happened there is going to be fascinating because, to your point, it just seems like the momentum was building for it and it didn’t happen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

He doesn’t think that will happen, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

That’s gonna happen in billions of years, if at all.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

"I'd been to Spain in 82, France in 98 and the Euros in 24, but it just seemed to be the World Cup was never going to happen for us."

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

I don’t need to tell Grandma what can happen when someone in the family tries to tamper with their gift without a guide.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

happen

Example Sentences

Related Words