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 befell
Perhaps, then, the back spasms that befell him on May 23 were a blessing.
—
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befell
Verb
-
In the production, directed by Jo Bonney, Susanna arrives there before realizing what has happened, a scene change that moves briskly enough to surprise you in the audience too.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
-
The dinghy could provide insight into what happened the night 55-year-old Lynette Hooker of Michigan disappeared.—
Cristian Benavides,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The crime spree occurred from May to December 2023.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
-
The incident involving Levine, Kellen said, allegedly occurred during a summer trip to France around 2003, when Levine was a houseguest at a property Epstein and Maxwell had rented in Saint-Tropez.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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