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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.

"Before all this happened, I just thought health and safety was paramount to any HGV driver and I never thought something like this could ever happen," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Reyes, who lives in nearby New London, loves his job, but he wonders what will happen to the already squeezed market when the new hires come to town.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

It’s highly doubtful this will happen, he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

At a house where a construction worker dumped lumber onto the sidewalk, Phillips strode up and asked what the thought would happen to the scrap pile.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Leah responded, “In the name of common sense, how did they happen to be there, nearly six feet beneath the cellar bottom?”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock