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
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
Sadiki, the Sunderland midfielder, befell that fate here.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 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
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Sadiki, the Sunderland midfielder, befell that fate here.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 31 Mar. 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
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That’s what happened in Game 3, as Denver largely kept Edwards and Julius Randle in check.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
That was a discovery that happened at the end.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Preliminary reports cited by Mexican news outlet Diario Puntual indicate that a security guard at the building did not hear gunshots, adding uncertainty about how the crime occurred.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The earthquake's epicenter was roughly 41 miles west of Petrolia and occurred at a depth of 6 miles.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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