happen

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To occur or take place.
2. (archaic, transitive) To happen to; to befall.
3. (impersonal, intransitive, with-infinitive) To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
4. To encounter by chance.
5. (informal) To become popular or trendy.

Adv

maybe, perhaps.

Synonyms

occur

take place

come about

become

befall

arise

be

come to pass

appear

go on

come

transpire

chance

🎲

pass

fall out

hap

grow

do

turn up

betide

go

fortune

bechance

come across

pass off

arrive

come up

come into being

turn out

rise

materialize

caused

materialise

get

produce

fall

come down

take

result

be imminent

succeed

overtake

move

emerge

make

have

intervene

proceed

come true

come out

Translations

geschehen

accadere

arriver

passieren

succedere

suceder

gebeuren

acontecer

ocurrir

se passer

pasar

avoir lieu

stattfinden

avvenire

sich ereignen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhæpən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: happenen

Inherited from Old English: hæppan

In summary

From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).

Sentences

He had found where his treasure was , and was frightened at what might happen .

Revenge is not my style , but obviously accidents will happen .

Yes , it’s disorganized but it will still happen .

How'd you happen to fall in ?