happen
HA-puhn
Happen (verb) means to take place; to occur. Example: “Nobody knows exactly what happened during the meeting.”
verb
1
To take place; to occur.
"Nobody knows exactly what happened during the meeting."
"Strange things tend to happen after midnight in that old house."
"The accident happened so quickly that nobody saw how it began."
2
To do something by chance, or to encounter something unexpectedly.
"I happened to see her at the station this morning."
"We happened upon a great little restaurant while walking around."
"Do you happen to know what time the library closes?"
How to use happen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFor an event to take place, or to do something without planning it.
Common mistake
"Happen to" + verb means "by chance" ("I happened to notice"), which is different from "happen to" + noun/pronoun meaning "occur to" ("What happened to my phone?").
Common pairings
happen to someone
happen upon
what happened
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- happens
- Past tense
- happened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Nobody knows exactly what _____ during the meeting.
Etymology
From Middle English happenen, built from hap ("chance, occurrence") plus the verb-forming suffix -en.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “happen” mean?
The word “happen” means to take place; to occur. In plain terms, for an event to take place, or to do something without planning it.
How do you pronounce “happen”?
“Happen” is pronounced HA-puhn (/ˈhæpən/ in IPA).
How do you use “happen” in a sentence?
Here is “happen” used in a sentence: “Nobody knows exactly what happened during the meeting.”
What is another word for “happen”?
Words with a similar meaning to “happen” include bechance, befall, belimp, betide, betime and chance.
What part of speech is “happen”?
“Happen” is a verb.
Where does the word “happen” come from?
The word “happen” comes from Middle English. From Middle English happenen, built from hap ("chance, occurrence") plus the verb-forming suffix -en.
Is “happen” a common word?
“Happen” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “happen” have?
“Happen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take place; to occur.
What is the difference between "happen" and "occur"?
Both mean to take place, but "happen" is the everyday, informal choice, while "occur" sounds more formal and is common in writing or reports. "Occur" has an extra sense too — to come to mind, as in "it occurred to me." In most situations, though, they are interchangeable.
What does "happen to" mean?
It has two uses. "Happen to do something" means to do it by chance: "I happen to know her." "Happen to someone" means to befall them: "What happened to you?" The phrase adds a sense of coincidence or of an event affecting a particular person.
What is an example of "happen" in a sentence?
You might say "The accident happened at noon," "Anything can happen," or "What happens next?" Each shows an event taking place. The verb simply states that something occurs, without judging whether it was planned, expected, or simply a matter of chance.
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