happen

hap·pen

intransitive verb \ˈha-pən, -p^əm\

hap·penedhap·pen·ing \ˈhap-niŋ, ˈha-pə-\

Definition of HAPPEN

1

: to occur by chance —often used with it <it so happens I'm going your way>

2

: to come into being or occur as an event, process, or result <mistakes will happen>

3

: to do, encounter, or attain something by or as if by chance <I happen to know the answer>

4

a : to meet or discover something by chance <happened upon a system that worked — Richard Corbin>

b : to come or go casually : make a chance appearance <he might happen by at any time>

5

: to come especially by way of injury or harm <I promise nothing will happen to you>

Examples of HAPPEN

1. Something like that was bound to happen sooner or later.
2. You never know what's going to happen when they get together.
3. What happened at school today?
4. “What's happening?” “They're installing new equipment.”

Origin of HAPPEN

Middle English, from hap

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to HAPPEN

Synonyms

be, befall, betide, chance, come, come about, come down, come off, cook, do, go down [slang], go on, hap, occur, pass, transpire, come to pass

Related Words

break, develop, rise, shape (up); arise, come up, crop (up), materialize, spring (up); intervene; fall out, follow, result, turn out; go off, proceed

Rhymes with HAPPEN

lapin, rapine