happen to

phrasal verb

happened to; happening to; happens to
: to affect or involve (someone or something) as the result of an event or action
An odd thing happened to me on my way to the office last week.
I wonder what/whatever happened to that guy after he lost his job.
especially : to affect (someone or something) in a bad or harmful way
I promise nothing will happen to you.
What happened to the car? There's a big scratch on the fender.

Examples of happen to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What happened to Chris Kyle? After returning home from his final deployment, Kyle began working with fellow veterans dealing with PTSD. Alex Gurley, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025 In many ways, this moment couldn’t have happened to a more deserving player. Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Listen to this article Cubs President Jed Hoyer and White Sox general manager Chris Getz are good friends who just happen to be connected by their roles running Chicago’s Major League Baseball teams. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025 The fact that the doomed king and his armed guards need to escape through a secret passage that just so happens to cut through my jail cell seems a little too convenient for my brain to accept without warning sirens going off. ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for happen to

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Happen to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happen%20to. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!