happened; happening
ˈha-pə-niŋ 
ˈhap-niŋ
1
: to occur by chance
—often used with it
it so happens I'm going your way
2
: to come into being or occur as an event, process, or result
mistakes will happen
3
: to do, encounter, or attain something by or as if by chance
I happen to know the answer
4
a
: to meet or discover something by chance
happened upon a system that worked—
Richard Corbin
Richard Corbin
b
: to come or go casually : make a chance appearance
he might happen by at any time
5
: to come especially by way of injury or harm
I promise nothing will happen to you
Synonyms
Examples of happen in a Sentence
Something like that was bound to happen sooner or later.
You never know what's going to happen when they get together.
What happened at school today?
“What's happening?” “They're installing new equipment.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Cincy by winning Saturday night must still have DEN and MIA both lose to get in, the Bengals’ chance of that happening put at 14.2%.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2025
The Seeds of Suspicion What happened and why seemed beyond debate.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
What happens after the cease-fire has been in place for 60 days?
—Abby Sewell and Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025
If that’s what the customer loves, guess what happens when your competition offers a lower price?
—Shep Hyken, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for happen 
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Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2025
The Seeds of Suspicion What happened and why seemed beyond debate.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
What happens after the cease-fire has been in place for 60 days?
—Abby Sewell and Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025
If that’s what the customer loves, guess what happens when your competition offers a lower price?
—Shep Hyken, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for happen
Dictionary Entries Near happen
Cite this Entry
“Happen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happen. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
happen
verb
hap·pen
ˈhap-ən
ˈhap-ᵊm
happened; happening
ˈhap-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to occur or come about by chance
2
: to take place : occur
3
: to have occasion or opportunity
happened to overhear
4
a
: to meet or find something by chance
happened upon the right answer
b
: to appear casually or by chance
happened into the room just as the music started
5
: to come by way of injury or harm
nothing will happen to you
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