happen

verb

hap·​pen ˈha-pən 

-pᵊm

happened; happening ˈha-pə-niŋ 

ˈhap-niŋ

intransitive verb

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.

Synonyms of happen

• occur
• come
• be
• do

Examples of happen in a Sentence

Something like that was bound to happen sooner or later.

You never know what's going to happen when they get together.

What happened at school today?

“What's happening?” “They're installing new equipment.”

Recent Examples on the Web

This is most likely to happen when the temperature is 36 degrees or less. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle starts sliding uncontrollably on wet roads. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

The shooting in Grays Ferry happened days after a separate mass shooting in South Philly that wounded eight people. —Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from hap

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing happen

• disaster waiting to happen
• happen along
• happen by
• happen into
• happen on/upon
• happen to

Rhymes for happen

• lapin
• terrapin

Kids Definition

happen

verb

hap·​pen ˈhap-ən 

ˈhap-ᵊm

happened; happening ˈhap-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to occur or come about by chance

2

: to take place : occur

3

: to have occasion or opportunity

happened to overhear

4

a

: to meet or find something by chance

happened upon the right answer

b

: to appear casually or by chance

happened into the room just as the music started

5

: to come by way of injury or harm

nothing will happen to you

Etymology

Middle English happenen "to occur by chance," from hap "chance, chance occurrence" — related to happy, mishap, perhaps