as in happened
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Staffers also contacted the Colorado State Patrol, as the 70-car pileup happened, to alert law enforcement.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Crash happened amid snowy weather The Colorado Department of Transportation previously warned motorists that winter driving conditions were being reported throughout the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor on April 14.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kennywood Park To celebrate the anniversary of the Whip, the park said that the ride had some new painting work done over the offseason, including new logos on the cars commemorating the 100th anniversary.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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That path isn’t easy or certain, but Hungary has proved it can be done.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For the sixth straight year and eighth in nine, their exit interviews occurred the same week as their regular-season finale — in other words, without a playoff appearance.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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The incident occurred while Kenner, a dad of two, was on his way back from coaching a youth baseball tournament in his hometown of Santa Fe, Texas, according to multiple reports.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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