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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of befell
In this soft dystopia, our military forces will not be destroyed in a cataclysmic confrontation with the armies of Communism, as befell Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front.
—
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
At Delta State University on Wednesday, there were few signs of the tragedy that befell the campus this week and disrupted the beginning of a new school year.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Sadly, the midnight movie magic that befell me and my Long Treadmill compatriots will be gone from our city by then.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
But this preseason, the circumstances that so often befell a roster already too thin to begin with didn’t manifest themselves for a change.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
At Delta State University on Wednesday, there were few signs of the tragedy that befell the campus this week and disrupted the beginning of a new school year.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
Sadly, the midnight movie magic that befell me and my Long Treadmill compatriots will be gone from our city by then.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
But this preseason, the circumstances that so often befell a roster already too thin to begin with didn’t manifest themselves for a change.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befell
Verb
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What happened next, according to first responders, Jasper's aunt Amber Rosen, churchgoers, hospital officials and family members of those impacted, is a blur of violence and terror with the pop-pop-pop of an assault weapon and thick black smoke from fire hanging in the air.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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The Canes have beaten Florida and Florida State in back-to-back years; that hasn’t happened since 2001-04.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The agents were reportedly performing a routine patrol in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, when the alleged assault occurred.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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Witnesses told police that the shooting occurred after two parties apparently disagreed about exchanging car insurance information following a minor accident.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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