Definition of HAPPEN

happen

Verb

Verb Forms: happened, happening, happens

  • To occur or come to pass.
  • come to pass
    • "What is happening?"
  • happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance; ; (Santayana)
    • "It happens that today is my birthday"
  • chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
    • "I happen to have just what you need!"
  • come into being; become reality
  • come upon, as if by accident; meet with
    • "I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here"
  • To occur or take place.
  • To happen to; to befall.
  • To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
  • To encounter by chance.
  • To become popular or trendy.

Adv

  • maybe, perhaps.

Examples

  • Do you happen to have an umbrella?
  • Great Words With Friends plays don’t just happen; they’re strategized.
  • If you should (happen to) need any help, I'll be there.
  • Let me tell you how it happened.
  • Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).

Synonyms

bechance, befall, bump, chance, come about, encounter, fall out, find, go on, hap, materialise, materialize, occur, pass, pass off, take place, belimp, betide, betime, come to pass, crop up, evene, eventuate, happen, hold, tide, transpire

Scrabble Score: 13

happen: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
happen: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
happen: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

happen: valid Words With Friends Word