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
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
Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert appeared on each other’s shows last night, using both opportunities to reflect on the recent chaos that has befallen late-night TV.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert appeared on each other’s shows last night, using both opportunities to reflect on the recent chaos that has befallen late-night TV.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befallen
Verb
-
Much has happened since, when the Hornets trudged out of Madison Square Garden with a 6-16 mark.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The initial rally happened on June 14, a week after the uptick in immigration enforcement operations in LA County.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The extent of the damage done to the ports was not immediately clear.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Now the Big Ten has done it, too, after getting three teams to the Elite Eight four other times, most recently in 2014.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the criminal complaint, about 100 people were in the rec center when the shooting occurred, which followed a fight involving some girls.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The shooting occurred, a police probable cause statement said, after Kirsten Wells was walking her dog and, on her path up the street, saw that the engine of one of King’s vehicle was running near his yard.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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