befell
bi-ˈfel 
bē-
; befallen
bi-ˈfȯ-lən
bē-
: to happen especially as if by fate
: to happen to
the fate that befell them
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
Our leaders owe it to all of us to do their utmost to prevent this fate from befalling anyone else.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
That fate can befall even major acts, particularly those from Latin America.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Consider what has befallen them in the 11 centuries since Hungarian tribes moved into the Carpathian Basin, in 896.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befall
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
That fate can befall even major acts, particularly those from Latin America.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Consider what has befallen them in the 11 centuries since Hungarian tribes moved into the Carpathian Basin, in 896.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befall
Cite this Entry
“Befall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befall. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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