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
With the murky rights issues that have befallen many ’90s indies cleared up, the film is ready to be rediscovered by a new generation.
—
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Seger’s music also seems to have been less conducive to the sort of right-wing political co-optation that has persistently befallen Springsteen’s, Petty’s, and Mellencamp’s work.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 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
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Seger’s music also seems to have been less conducive to the sort of right-wing political co-optation that has persistently befallen Springsteen’s, Petty’s, and Mellencamp’s work.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befallen
Verb
-
What happened that day at the lake?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The Port Authority of Allegheny County Police said Wednesday that Devante Clark, 31, was arrested in Downtown Pittsburgh and charged in a stabbing that happened in early May on a bus along the East Busway near the Homewood Station.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
No part of hanging the flag was done on work time.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Since taking the reins at the RSN in October 2024, Wisnia has done his bit to boost in-game deliveries—the Red Sox closed out last season up 46% in average household ratings—while spearheading an efficiency review that gave way to the relaunch of NESN’s direct-to-consumer service.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
According to the report, the incident occurred in late April in Yuba City.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
This complaint describes events that allegedly occurred nearly twenty years ago and is based solely on the plaintiff’s account.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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