verb
befall
bih-FAWL
Befall (verb) means to happen to someone, especially something unfortunate. Example: “No one could have predicted the tragedy that would befall the town.”
verb
1
To happen to someone, especially something unfortunate.
"As we’ve said before, with the exception of communism itself, the euro has been the biggest economic catastrophe to befall the continent (and the world) since the 1930s."
— Walter Russell Mead, The Wreck of the Euro (2013)
"No one could have predicted the tragedy that would befall the town."
"Whatever misfortune befalls us, we'll face it together."
How to use befall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo happen to someone or something, usually with a serious or negative event.
When to use it
Formal or literary; rarely used in casual conversation.
Common pairings
a fate that befalls
whatever befalls
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like befall.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- befalls
- Third person singular
- befalls
- Past tense
- befell, befallen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
No one could have predicted the tragedy that would _____ the town.
Etymology
From Old English befeallan, combining the prefix "be-" with "fall," originally meaning something like "to fall upon."
Related words
Rhymes for befall
See all rhymes for befall →Frequently asked questions
What does “befall” mean?
The word “befall” means to happen to someone, especially something unfortunate. In plain terms, to happen to someone or something, usually with a serious or negative event.
How do you pronounce “befall”?
“Befall” is pronounced bih-FAWL (/bɪˈfɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “befall” in a sentence?
Here is “befall” used in a sentence: “No one could have predicted the tragedy that would befall the town.”
What is another word for “befall”?
Words with a similar meaning to “befall” include occur and transpire.
What part of speech is “befall”?
“Befall” is a verb.
Where does the word “befall” come from?
The word “befall” comes from Old English. From Old English befeallan, combining the prefix "be-" with "fall," originally meaning something like "to fall upon.".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include befall:
