as in happened
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
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Recent Examples of befallen
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
That exact same scenario has befallen Pool B of the WBC, except it’s turned everyone into mathematicians heading into the finale.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply stricken by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply stricken by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
There's a mysterious little girl (Caoilinn Springall) on the station with him, and 2) her only hope for survival is the Aether, a distant spaceship that's returning to Earth unaware of the fate that's befallen it.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
A little more than a week after the franchise and general manager Chris Grier mutually parted ways, a similar fate has befallen co-directors of player personnel Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
—Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
This is far from the only injury that has befallen the Buccaneers' receiving corps this year.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The Los Angeles Film School paid $1 million to resolve a federal audit in 2020, but avoided the stiffer penalties that have befallen other for-profit colleges accused of fraud.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
That exact same scenario has befallen Pool B of the WBC, except it’s turned everyone into mathematicians heading into the finale.
—Maria Torres, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply stricken by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 25 Jan. 2026
Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply stricken by this tragedy that has befallen one of our own.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
There's a mysterious little girl (Caoilinn Springall) on the station with him, and 2) her only hope for survival is the Aether, a distant spaceship that's returning to Earth unaware of the fate that's befallen it.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
A little more than a week after the franchise and general manager Chris Grier mutually parted ways, a similar fate has befallen co-directors of player personnel Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
—Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
This is far from the only injury that has befallen the Buccaneers' receiving corps this year.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The Los Angeles Film School paid $1 million to resolve a federal audit in 2020, but avoided the stiffer penalties that have befallen other for-profit colleges accused of fraud.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befallen
Verb
-
That’s what happened in Game 3, as Denver largely kept Edwards and Julius Randle in check.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That was a discovery that happened at the end.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Bills have done some homework on him in the pre-draft process and need a long-term punter.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Kikuchi didn’t even give up a hit in any of his other four innings, but the damage had been done.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Preliminary reports cited by Mexican news outlet Diario Puntual indicate that a security guard at the building did not hear gunshots, adding uncertainty about how the crime occurred.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The earthquake's epicenter was roughly 41 miles west of Petrolia and occurred at a depth of 6 miles.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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