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.

This sounds like the kind of thing that is more likely to happen when you are being taped for a TV show.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

What’s much more difficult to grasp, even for those of us now alive, is how we wound up in a world where that might happen.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

“People are not sitting home waiting and wondering what’s going to happen, which is a very different phenomenon.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 5, 2026

So even when Easter falls in April, spring snow can still happen, especially over the higher ground of Scotland.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

As long as it stayed mine, it could still happen.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

happen

Example Sentences

Related Words