English Explanatory Dictionary

happen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To occur or take place.
  2. To happen to; to befall.
  3. To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
  4. To encounter by chance.
  5. To become popular or trendy.
adv
  1. maybe, perhaps.

Pronunciation

/ˈhæpən/ en-us-happen.ogg

Word forms

happen happens happening happened

Etymology

From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).

Synonyms

bechance befall belimp betide betime chance come about come to pass crop up evene eventuate go on hap happen hold occur pass take place tide transpire

Related words

happening happenstance come into being

Derived words

accidents will happen accidents will happen in the best regulated families 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 happeningly happen on happen upon if it happens, it happens it so happens make fetch happen make happen mappen mishappen or it didn't happen pics or it didn't happen pictures or it didn't happen rehappen shit happens these things happen unhappen waiting to happen what's happening worse things happen at sea
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