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happen
[hap-uhn]
verb (used without object)
to take place; come to pass; occur.
Something interesting is always happening in New York.
Synonyms:to come to pass by chance; occur without apparent reason or design.
Don't ask me what caused it—it just happened, that's all.
to have the fortune or lot (to do or be as specified); chance.
I happened to see him on the street.
to befall, as to a person or thing.
Something dreadful has happened to me.
to meet or discover by chance (usually followed by on orupon ).
to happen on a clue to a mystery.
to be, come, go, etc., casually or by chance.
My friend happened along.
Slang.to be very exciting or interesting.
That party was happening!
happen
/ ˈæə /
verb
(intr) (of an event in time) to come about or take place; occur
(of some unforeseen circumstance or event, esp death), to fall to the lot (of); be a source of good or bad fortune (to)
if anything happens to me, it'll be your fault
(tr) to chance (to be or do something)
I happen to know him
(tr; takes a clause as object) to be the case, esp if by chance, that
it happens that I know him
adverb
dialect
another word for perhaps
( as sentence modifier )
happen I'll see thee tomorrow
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of happen1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
“The change the chairman made, saying the star needs to be the club and not the players, that’s what happened on the pitch,” said Fabien Allègre, the club’s chief brand officer.
"So, happy nothing happened to him. I paid the price for my mistake."
That sum shrank to as little as $30bn, not including investments backed by foreign governments, once researchers factored in the risk that some projects might fail to materialise, or would have happened anyway.
The conversation is said to have happened since Israel launched its attack on Iran on Friday.
"And, to me, what's happening in Palestine is one of the greatest injustices in the world today."
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Related Words
When To Use
Happen means to occur, to come to pass by chance, or to befall someone or something. Happen has several other senses as a verb.Happen is a very general word that simply means to occur or take place. For example, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln happened on April 15, 1865. That date is when this event took place.
- Real-life examples: Halloween happens on October 31. Scientists run experiments to see what happens. Nobody knows what will happen in the future. History is a record of what happened in the past.
- Used in a sentence: The police blocked off the street where the car accident happened.
- Used in a sentence: Joe happened to be standing in the exact spot where the water balloon landed.
- Used in a sentence: Sherri was terrified that something horrible had happened to her kitten.
- Used in a sentence: Summer is usually busy with happenings like beach parties. Summertime is happening!
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