Definition of happen
Short definition: The word happen means to take place or occur, especially when something happens naturally or unexpectedly. People use it to talk about events, situations, or changes that come into being over time.
Looking for a clear and real-life explanation of the word happen? The word happen is often used when we talk about events, changes, and moments that occur in our lives—sometimes planned, sometimes completely unexpected. From small daily situations to life-changing experiences, happen helps us describe how things unfold over time. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, natural way with long examples that reflect how people truly use this word.
Verb forms: happen, happens, happening, happened
Related: happening n., happenstance n.
Syllable: hap-pen
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(Verb) To take place or occur, especially when something
is not fully planned.
The accident happened so suddenly that no one had time to react.Nobody expected the meeting to be canceled, but it just happened without warning.Sometimes the best moments in life happen when you least expect them.
Synonyms: occur, take place, come about, transpire, unfold, arise, come to pass, befall, develop, materialize, come up, emerge
Antonyms: not occur, fail to happen, be prevented, stop, halt, cancel, block, avoid, prevent, discontinue, delay indefinitely, abort -
(Verb) To experience something by chance or accident.
I happened to meet my old friend at the airport, even though we hadn’t seen each other in years.She just happened to find the perfect dress while browsing in a small local store.He happened upon a great opportunity that completely changed his career path.
Synonyms: chance upon, come across, run into, stumble on, encounter unexpectedly, discover by chance, meet accidentally, find unexpectedly, bump into, happen upon, come by, cross paths with
Antonyms: search for deliberately, plan carefully, arrange intentionally, avoid meeting, miss completely, overlook on purpose, steer clear of, bypass intentionally, skip knowingly, ignore deliberately, plan away from, stay distant from -
(Verb) To turn out in a particular way,
especially regarding results or outcomes.
I don’t know how the situation will happen, but I hope everything ends well for everyone involved.No matter what happens, she promises to stay positive and move forward.Whatever happened between them, they both learned important lessons from it.
Synonyms: turn out, result, end up, come to be, work out, develop into, shape up, conclude, resolve, unfold finally, finish as, pan out
Antonyms: fail to turn out, collapse, fall apart, go wrong, break down, derail, disappoint, fail badly, crash, misfire, flop, backfire -
(Verb) To become true or real,
especially about something expected or feared.
What she feared most finally happened, but she realized she was stronger than she thought.Nobody believed it would ever happen, until one day it actually did.Dreams can happen when you work hard and stay patient.
Synonyms: come true, be realized, become reality, materialize, actualize, be fulfilled, take shape, come to life, manifest, be achieved, be completed, be accomplished
Antonyms: fail to come true, remain unrealized, fall through, stay imaginary, never materialize, be abandoned, fade away, be canceled, be given up, be forgotten, remain only a dream, be impossible -
(Figurative) To matter or be important in a situation.
No matter what happens, your health should always come first.Whatever happened in the past, what truly happens now is how you move forward.Sometimes what happens inside your mind is more important than what happens around you.
Synonyms: matter, count, be important, be significant, make a difference, carry weight, have impact, be meaningful, play a role, be relevant, influence outcomes, shape results
Antonyms: not matter, be irrelevant, be unimportant, carry no weight, make no difference, be meaningless, be trivial, be insignificant, be pointless, have no impact, be negligible, be forgettable