happen

verb
/ˈhæpən/

To occur or take place.

Example

“Let me tell you how it happened.”

Other meanings

To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
“Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.”
To encounter by chance.

Related words

accidents will happen
accident waiting to happen
as it happens
behappen
couldn't happen to a nicer
disaster waiting to happen
happenable
happen across
happen along
happen by
happenchance
happener

Example sentences

“Everything that happens to you affects me.”
Tatoeba · AmarMecheri · CC0
“If you put in the work, things happen.”
Tatoeba · shekitten · CC0
“That's going to happen no matter what.”
Tatoeba · Miktsoanit · CC0

Word history

From Old English "hæppan" (to move accidentally, slip).

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “happen” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.