Happen Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
Happen means to occur or take place, often unexpectedly or by chance. e.g., It just happened that they both wore the same dress to the party.
Table of Contents
Happen Definitions
To take place as a result of something.
The cancellation happened due to bad weather.
To transpire or come to pass.
Let me know what happens at the meeting.
To be experienced or encountered.
An amazing opportunity happened to her.
To occur as a natural or logical consequence.
It happened that they both had the same idea.
To come about by chance.
We met again; it just happened to be at the same café.
To come into being or occur as an event.
A strange coincidence happened at the reunion.
To chance to do something or occur.
I happened to see your friend downtown.
To befall or occur to someone.
What happened to him was unexpected.
To come to pass
Where did the accident happen?.
To come about as a consequence; result
Trouble always seems to happen when he's around.
To be the fate; become
What will happen to the business when the owner retires?.
To encounter something by chance
I happened upon an interesting article in the newspaper.
To come or go casually; make an appearance
My friend happened by around dinnertime.
Used with the impersonal subject it and a following clause or infinitive to indicate the occurrence of a usually unexpected or chance event
It happened that I was in the shower when you called. It happened to snow on the night she was born.
To have the fortune (to be or do something); be in a situation or position (to be or do something)
The bus station happens to be close to the museum. I happen to know the answer to that question.
Used with an infinitive to make polite requests
Do you happen to know the time?.
(intransitive) To occur or take place.
Let me tell you how it happened.
To happen to; to befall.
To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.
Do you happen to have an umbrella?
I happened to get wet.
To encounter by chance.
Maybe, perhaps.
To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out.
There shall no evil happen to the just.
To take place; to occur.
All these things which had happened.
Come to pass;
What is happening?
The meeting took place off without an incidence
Nothing occurred that seemed important
Happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance;
It happens that today is my birthday
These things befell
Chance to be or do something, without intention or causation;
I happen to have just what you need!
Come into being; become reality;
Her dream really materialized
Come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
We find this idea in Plato
I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
To take place or occur.
The concert will happen next Saturday.
To occur unexpectedly.
The power outage happened without warning.
Happen Snonyms
Arise
(of a situation or problem) emerge; become apparent.
New challenges arise every day.
Take place
Happen or occur.
The concert will take place next Thursday.
Come about
Happen; take place.
How did this situation come about?
Occur
Happen; take place.
The accident occurred at 5 pm yesterday.
Transpire
Occur; happen.
Events transpired that changed his outlook on life.
Ensue
Happen or occur afterward or as a result.
The difficulties that ensued from their decision were unforeseen.
Result
Occur or follow as the consequence of something.
The accident resulted from negligence.
Unfold
Open or spread out from a folded position; reveal or become apparent through the course of events.
The story unfolds through the eyes of the protagonist.
Materialize
Become actual fact; happen.
The planned merger failed to materialize.
Develop
Grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
A crisis developed after the stock market crash.
Happen Idioms & Phrases
Happen upon a chance
To encounter or find something by chance.
While walking through the old town, she happened upon a charming little bookstore.
What will happen, will happen
An acceptance that future events are out of one's control and will unfold as they are meant to.
He realized that worrying wouldn't change anything because what will happen, will happen.
Let happen what may
To allow events to unfold without trying to influence the outcome.
She decided to stop worrying and let happen what may.
Make it happen
To actively work to ensure that a desired event or outcome occurs.
He was determined to succeed and was ready to do whatever was necessary to make it happen.
Never let it happen again
To take measures to prevent a recurrence of an undesirable event.
They vowed to never let such a mistake happen again.
Happen at the right time
To occur at a particularly opportune or appropriate moment.
The job offer couldn't have happened at a better time for him.
Happen to be
To be somewhere or find oneself in a situation by chance.
I happened to be at the cafe when your favorite author was signing books.
Just so happens
Used to indicate that something is true by coincidence or happenstance.
It just so happens that I have an extra ticket to the concert tonight.
Happen against all odds
To occur despite very low probability or expectations.
Their team won the championship, which happened against all odds.
As it happens
Coincidentally or by chance.
As it happens, I'm heading in the same direction and can give you a lift.
Things happen for a reason
A belief that there is a purpose behind every event, even if it is not immediately apparent.
Even though it was a tough time, she believed that things happen for a reason.
Happen overnight
To occur very quickly or suddenly, often unexpectedly.
Success in this field doesn't happen overnight; it requires years of hard work.
Happen behind the scenes
To occur out of public view or in secrecy.
Much of the work happened behind the scenes, unseen by the audience.
Happen in a heartbeat
To occur very quickly or in an instant.
Life as we know it can change and happen in a heartbeat.
Good things happen to those who wait
Patience is often rewarded.
Don't be discouraged by the delay; remember, good things happen to those who wait.
Happen under one's nose
To occur right in front of someone without them noticing.
The theft happened right under the security guard's nose.
Happen to know
To have knowledge of something by chance.
I happen to know a great little restaurant around the corner.
Let nature happen
To allow natural processes to occur without interference.
Instead of trying to control everything in the garden, sometimes it's best to just let nature happen.
Happen by design
To occur as a result of planning or intention, not by accident.
The meeting may have seemed casual, but it happened by design.
Happen Example Sentences
What will happen if I press this button?
Accidents can happen to anyone, so always be careful.
Can you explain how tornadoes happen?
Things don't just happen; they require planning and effort.
Strange things happen in that abandoned house at night.
I wonder what would happen if we got lost in the forest.
If you don't study, nothing good will happen on your test day.
Miracles can happen when you least expect them.
It's rare for snow to happen in this city.
Why do changes in weather happen?
Sometimes, good things happen to those who wait.
I hope something exciting will happen during our vacation.
What will happen to the plants if they don't get enough water?
Let's see what will happen when we mix these two chemicals.
You never know what might happen on an adventure.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in happen?
The first syllable "hap" is the stressed syllable in "happen."
How is happen used in a sentence?
"Accidents can happen if you are not careful."
What is the verb form of happen?
The verb form is "happen."
What is the root word of happen?
The root word of "happen" is the Old Norse word "happ," meaning luck or chance.
How many syllables are in happen?
There are two syllables in "happen."
How do we divide happen into syllables?
"Happen" is divided into syllables as "hap-pen."
What is the first form of happen?
The first form (present tense) is "happen."
Why is it called happen?
"Happen" comes from the Middle English word "happen," which in turn comes from the Old Norse word "happ" meaning luck or chance, indicating an occurrence by chance.
What is the pronunciation of happen?
Happen is pronounced as /ˈhæp.ən/.
What is the singular form of happen?
As a verb, "happen" does not have a singular or plural form; it remains "happen."
What is the third form of happen?
The third form (past participle) is "happened."
What is the plural form of happen?
Verbs do not have plural forms in the same way nouns do, so "happen" remains the same regardless of subject number.
What is the second form of happen?
The second form (simple past tense) is "happened."
What is the opposite of happen?
There isn't a direct opposite for "happen," but in some contexts, "prevent" or "avoid" might be considered opposites.
What part of speech is happen?
"Happen" is a verb.
Is happen an adverb?
No, "happen" is not an adverb.
Is happen an abstract noun?
"Happen" is a verb, not a noun.
Is the happen term a metaphor?
"Happen" can be used metaphorically to describe events or occurrences in abstract terms.
Is the word happen imperative?
"Happen" can be used in an imperative form only in idiomatic expressions, like "Make it happen!"
Is happen a collective noun?
"Happen" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word happen Gerund?
The gerund form of "happen" is "happening."
Is the word “happen” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Happen" is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct or indirect object.
Which vowel is used before happen?
The vowel used before "happen" depends on the context and the preceding words in a sentence.
Is happen a noun or adjective?
"Happen" is a verb.
Is happen a vowel or consonant?
The word "happen" starts with the consonant "h."
Which article is used with happen?
Articles are not typically used directly with verbs like "happen."
What is another term for happen?
Another term for "happen" could be "occur" or "take place."
Is happen a negative or positive word?
"Happen" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
Is happen a countable noun?
"Happen" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Which determiner is used with happen?
Determiners are not typically used with verbs like "happen."
Which preposition is used with happen?
Prepositions such as "to" (as in "happen to know") or "by" (as in "happen by chance") can be used, depending on the context.
Which conjunction is used with happen?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "happen," depending on the sentence structure.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
