befallen

past participle of befall

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of befallen Now, a team of researchers may have arrived at an answer, determining the fate that would have befallen a hypothetical moon orbiting Venus. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026 That tendency toward downbeat storytelling has befallen many Spider-Man films over the years. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The less time Alicent Hightower spends in the company of men, the more she’s blamed for every bad fate that’s ever befallen them. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 July 2026 Yes, a market slump has befallen chipmakers on and off for roughly the past month. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 July 2026 Rather, according to his mom and dad, something more nefarious could have befallen him — and been covered up. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 In baseball, curses are no joking matter, and the Curse of the FTD Burger might now have befallen the team. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 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. — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befallen
Verb
  • What happened next is the part that actually surprised the experts.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Here’s everything to know about the Netflix film’s final moments, and what happened after in the real-life events.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of calling for calm and letting the justice system work, too many political leaders on the left and progressive social influencers either fanned the flames of unrest or failed to act until enormous damage was done.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This being a French line and a bilingual ship, everything is done once in French, then translated to English.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims each year, especially sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto where the visions purportedly occurred.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The petition argues that the decision was incorrect because mining hadn’t occurred on the property for years prior to 1976, said the alliance’s attorney, Henry Josefberg.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befallen. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster