noun
hap
hap
Hap (noun) means (archaic) Luck or fortune, good or bad; chance. Example: “Whatever hap befell them, they faced it together.”
noun
1
(archaic) Luck or fortune, good or bad; chance.
"Whatever hap befell them, they faced it together."
verb
1
(archaic) To happen by chance.
"It happed that they arrived on the very same day."
""We must go there to retrieve it before the Krikkit robots find it, or who knows what may hap.""
— Douglas Adams, Life (1982)
How to use hap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old word for luck or chance — rarely used now except in "happen," "happy," and "haphazard."
Memory tip
You will almost never hear "hap" alone in modern English; it survives mainly inside other words.
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Word forms
- Plural
- haps
- Third person singular
- haps
- Past tense
- happed
Fill the gap
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Whatever _____ befell them, they faced it together.
Etymology
From Middle English hap ("chance, luck"), related to Old Norse happ ("good luck"). The modern words "happen" and "happy" both grow from this same root.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hap
See all rhymes for hap →Frequently asked questions
What does “hap” mean?
The word “hap” means (archaic) Luck or fortune, good or bad; chance. In plain terms, an old word for luck or chance — rarely used now except in "happen," "happy," and "haphazard.".
How do you pronounce “hap”?
“Hap” is pronounced hap (/hæp/ in IPA).
How do you use “hap” in a sentence?
Here is “hap” used in a sentence: “Whatever hap befell them, they faced it together.”
What is another word for “hap”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hap” include serendipity.
What part of speech is “hap”?
Depending on how it is used, “hap” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hap” come from?
The word “hap” comes from Middle English. From Middle English hap ("chance, luck"), related to Old Norse happ ("good luck"). The modern words "happen" and "happy" both grow from this same root.
How many meanings does “hap” have?
“Hap” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (archaic) Luck or fortune, good or bad; chance.
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