happened

past tense of happen

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 happened What happened that day at the lake? Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 The Port Authority of Allegheny County Police said Wednesday that Devante Clark, 31, was arrested in Downtown Pittsburgh and charged in a stabbing that happened in early May on a bus along the East Busway near the Homewood Station. Mike Darnay, CBS News, 11 June 2026 The third event happened during my second month in a new job. Gary Jacobs, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 All that has happened in California, as far as all available evidence shows, is that counties are counting votes – slowly, as usual, but legitimately. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 June 2026 The panel will discuss what has happened since the shooting and how to honor the victims with action. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2026 Various things happened that were out of our control through the last few seasons. Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026 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 Reiter Fights Back One of the things that people outside of South Florida often get wrong about the Epstein case is where the crimes happened and which law enforcement jurisdictions were responsible for holding Epstein accountable. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happened
Verb
  • According to the report, the incident occurred in late April in Yuba City.
    Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
  • This complaint describes events that allegedly occurred nearly twenty years ago and is based solely on the plaintiff’s account.
    Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • That came just a few days after news broke that Palantir had secured a $10 billion contract from the US Army over the next decade.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • All five of Bednar’s outs came via strikeout on Wednesday.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • There was no resolution, of course.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • For organizers, there was no more fitting place to begin the centennial celebration.
    Daily News, Daily News, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The two men then said Smollett paid them to stage the attack, and Smollett was charged with filing a false police report; the charges were later dropped after Smollett paid a fine and did community service.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Happened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happened. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

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