as in happens
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
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Recent Examples of befalls
Tragedy befalls fishing town Paul Lundberg, Gloucester’s mayor, said the names of those on the Lily Jean would be added to a city memorial honoring thousands of fishermen who have been lost at sea over the years.
—
Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
The same fate befalls the HAKOS Astro Guest Farm, a remote mountainous escape for amateur astronomers.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
But when a tragedy befalls the hotel, Nina is propelled in a relentless spiral of lies and manipulations.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing like a catharsis cry, and that’s exactly what Task serves up in its final montage of what befalls both Tom Brandis and Maeve Prendergast once the Dark Hearts case is wrapped up for good (for now).
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Advertisement The tragedy that befalls Robert rattles his faith in everything.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
When a mysterious prankster befalls the town of Middlesburg, 13-year-old Frances McCausland (Erin Chambers) gets blamed for the mischief.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Whatever evil befalls the poor child is left up to viewers' imaginations, and this is accomplished by a chilling series of shots and a daunting musical motif.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Another tragedy befalls Oscar Van Rhijn, Agnes's only child, in season three.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026
The same fate befalls the HAKOS Astro Guest Farm, a remote mountainous escape for amateur astronomers.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
But when a tragedy befalls the hotel, Nina is propelled in a relentless spiral of lies and manipulations.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing like a catharsis cry, and that’s exactly what Task serves up in its final montage of what befalls both Tom Brandis and Maeve Prendergast once the Dark Hearts case is wrapped up for good (for now).
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Advertisement The tragedy that befalls Robert rattles his faith in everything.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
When a mysterious prankster befalls the town of Middlesburg, 13-year-old Frances McCausland (Erin Chambers) gets blamed for the mischief.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Whatever evil befalls the poor child is left up to viewers' imaginations, and this is accomplished by a chilling series of shots and a daunting musical motif.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Another tragedy befalls Oscar Van Rhijn, Agnes's only child, in season three.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befalls
Verb
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What happens when thousands of AI agents get together online and talk like humans do?—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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This feels like only a deal that happens if Giannis is set on NYC and the Bucks are willing to accommodate.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Such cover is often used in sectors such as agriculture – with pay-outs for farmers when a flood of a set magnitude occurs, for example – and provides policyholders with a speedy settlement, rather than requiring them to negotiate with loss adjusters.—
David Prosser,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Tuesday morning will be a tad colder, thanks to light winds and efficient radiational cooling, which occurs when clear skies allow surface heat to radiate back into the atmosphere, cooling temperatures even further.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befalls. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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