as in occurs
to take place
did anything exciting happen over the summer?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of happens
The real action happens outside of the courtroom—at the Cairo Club, or the bar at the Lafayette Hotel, or F&M Patio Bar—where the heat and the music and the drinks have a way of bringing Lemann back to herself.
—
Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Check-in happens in the room which makes everyone's life easier.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Arguably, not much happens onstage, in real-time.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Lane is a good-sized winger with some real puck skill, scoring touch, smarts, a level of physicality and competitiveness that puts him in the mix of everything that happens on the ice.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
What happens then, when the Ohio data center turns on its nighttime lights?
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
And serialization is a glorious, wonderful thing that happens automatically to a show that people love.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
What happens in those hours can linger after Price leaves.
—Derek James, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
But, for now, some leaders remain worried about what happens next.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Check-in happens in the room which makes everyone's life easier.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Arguably, not much happens onstage, in real-time.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Lane is a good-sized winger with some real puck skill, scoring touch, smarts, a level of physicality and competitiveness that puts him in the mix of everything that happens on the ice.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
What happens then, when the Ohio data center turns on its nighttime lights?
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
And serialization is a glorious, wonderful thing that happens automatically to a show that people love.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
What happens in those hours can linger after Price leaves.
—Derek James, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
But, for now, some leaders remain worried about what happens next.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happens
Verb
-
Amid such a tumult of exertion and indulgence, the art of directing may seem like an afterthought or a footnote to the sheer volume of creative work that occurs even when the camera isn’t rolling.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Typical orthopedic shoulder pain usually occurs after an injury, overuse, sleeping awkwardly, lifting something heavy or repetitive motion, according to the doctor.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not every county is on board, but there is now a push to expand it statewide.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each board comes with spread containers, bowls and a cheese knife.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The funding debate comes just months after Lexington neighbors voted to approve $660 million for a new high school.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So does Soderbergh’s camera, which begins sniffing and roving about the space like a dog unleashed.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
So does Delta Air Lines, which also ranks high with customers and is now the country’s most profitable carrier.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happens. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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