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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.

Unlike Americans in the 1980s, they expected prices to come back down, but that will likely not happen.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

"We are not there yet, but it can happen," Jorgensen said.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

“In Russia, they say that things don’t happen fast, but when they happen, they happen fast,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

These huge waves, labelled megatsunamis, happen when a landslide caused by either an earthquake or loose rock hit water below.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Sela and I agreed, without speaking a word, that the friendship would never happen, simply because our moms wanted it.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith