happen

Verb
Synonyms: hapgo onpass offoccurpassfall outcome abouttake placebefallbechancematerializematerialise

WordNet 3.0

Verb (5)

  1. come to pass“What is happening?”“The meeting took place off without an incidence”“Nothing occurred that seemed important”Synonyms: hapgo onpass offoccurpassfall outcome abouttake place
  2. happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance“It happens that today is my birthday”“These things befell" (Santayana)”Synonyms: befallbechance
  3. chance to be or do something, without intention or causation“I happen to have just what you need!”
  4. come into being; become reality“Her dream really materialized”Synonyms: materializematerialise
  5. come upon, as if by accident; meet with“We find this idea in Plato”“I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here”“She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day”Synonyms: findchancebumpencounter
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Happen \Hap"pen\ (h[a^]p"p'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Happened (-p'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Happening.] [OE. happenen, hapnen. See Hap to happen.]

1.To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out. [1913 Webster]

There shall no evil happen to the just.— Prov. xii. 21.[1913 Webster]

2.To take place; to occur. [1913 Webster]

All these things which had happened.— Luke xxiv. 14.[1913 Webster]

To happen on, to meet with; to fall or light upon. "I have happened on some other accounts." --Graunt.

To happen in, to make a casual call. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

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