happens

- 2 dictionary results

hap⋅pen

[hap-uh

–verb (used without object)

1.	to take place; come to pass; occur: Something interesting is always happening in New York.

2.	to come to pass by chance; occur without apparent reason or design: Don't ask me what caused it—it just happened, that's all.

3.	to have the fortune or lot (to do or be as specified); chance: I happened to see him on the street.

4.	to befall, as to a person or thing: Something dreadful has happened to me.

5.	to meet or discover by chance (usually fol. by on or upon): to happen on a clue to a mystery.

6.	to be, come, go, etc., casually or by chance: My friend happened along.

7.	Slang. to be very exciting or interesting: That party was happening!

Origin:
1300–50; ME hap(pe)nen. See hap ¹ , -en ¹

Synonyms:
1. betide. Happen, chance, occur refer to the taking place of an event. Happen, which originally denoted the taking place by hap or chance, is now the most general word for coming to pass: Something has happened. Chance suggests the accidental nature of an event: It chanced to rain that day. Occur is often interchangeable with happen, but is more formal, and is usually more specific as to time and event: His death occurred the following year.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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hap·pen (hāp'ən)

intr.v. hap·pened, hap·pen·ing, hap·pens

1. To come to pass.
2. To come into being.
To take place or occur by chance.
To come upon something by chance.
To come or go casually; make an appearance.

[Middle English happenen, from hap, chance; see hap.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to come about: saw an awful thing happen; predicted that misery will befall humankind; woe that betides the poor soldier; former friends who chanced to meet again; described the accident exactly as it occurred.

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