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

• 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

What chemistry is happening during that time, and how does under or over cooking the milk affect the finished cream? —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025

And the challenge that your character is facing is that this doctor, played by Mary Bronstein, is saying that your daughter has to gain something like 50 pounds this week or there’s a further intervention that’s going to happen. —Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025

What living at the Culinary Institute looked like The fast pace of the show felt like everything happened in two weeks, but in fact, filming took place over a month and a half at the Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park campus in New York. —Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025

But what’s happening now in their lives is testimony to love and faith and resilience in the wake of such senseless tragedy. —Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025

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