befall

verb

be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl 

bē-

befell bi-ˈfel 

bē-

; befallen bi-ˈfȯ-lən 

bē-

intransitive verb

: to happen especially as if by fate

transitive verb

: to happen to

the fate that befell them

Synonyms of befall

• happen
• occur

Examples of befall in a Sentence

It's sad to think of the unhappy fate that befell him.

The drought was only one of many hardships to befall the small country.

Recent Examples on the Web

That fate will befall Fanning and Lilleaas (expect Fanning to get her moment in the spotlight someday). —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026

The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state. —Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026

The family soon joins a group of ravers in a journey across the Sahara Desert, where surreal tragedy after surreal tragedy befalls them. —Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal. —Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English befallen, going back to Old English befeallan (parallel to Old High German bifallan "to fall"), from be- be- + feallan "to fall entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for befall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale
• downfall

Kids Definition

befall

verb

be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl 

befell -ˈfel  ; befallen -ˈfȯ-lən  ; befalling

1

: to take place : happen

2

: to happen to