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

Psychologists have long documented what happens when people believe they are being watched. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

When that happens, the question is no longer whether cryptography needs to change. — Evgeny Gervis, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

So that’s part of the closure — seeing, once the chase is over, what happens during the actual arrest. — Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won't happen again. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Sep. 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