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
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
Xayavong had befallen the same fate and was found about a week later in a Coon Rapids storage unit.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Xayavong had befallen the same fate and was found about a week later in a Coon Rapids storage unit.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befallen
Verb
-
The cause of the accident, which happened shortly before noon in good weather, was not immediately clear.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The water reaching the Lower Basin will probably fall below that point later this year or next, which has never happened, said Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Cramer said DuPont’s earnings report that same day should highlight how great of a job CEO Lori Koch has done to improve the chemicals company.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
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Because no permit was requested, the city wasn't aware that there were repairs done on the property and therefore did not evaluate or approve the work.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The incident occurred just hours before dozens of flyers depicting former Prince Andrew were briefly scattered around the village of Dedham ahead of the royal visit, The Times reported.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The release said Lovely lives near where the fire occurred.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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