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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.

If the 2021 viral moment didn’t happen, it might not have grown at the same pace.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

We apologize for bringing arithmetic into this–we’ll try not to let it happen again.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Helen and Lee said they feared "another outbreak like Kent could happen again" if the MenB vaccine was not made available to 15-24-year-olds on the NHS.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

But then he said it doesn’t matter anyway because the strait would magically open itself up at the end of hostilities, which he claimed will happen “soon.”

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

But I will tell you because I want you to know the story as it happened, not simply as I would have wished it to happen.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.