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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.

Passengers are stuck sitting in a plane with tens of thousands of gallons of fuel in its wings hoping the worst doesn’t happen, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

“Polymarket cuts through media spin and so-called ‘expert’ opinion by letting people bet on what they actually believe will happen in the world,” he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

“Last year, I didn’t let that happen to me, and that was a big difference.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

It’s what I was worried about, what I hoped wouldn’t happen, and I let it happen anyway.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam