happened; happening
ˈha-pə-niŋ 
ˈhap-niŋ
1
: to occur by chance
—often used with it
it so happens I'm going your way
2
: to come into being or occur as an event, process, or result
mistakes will happen
3
: to do, encounter, or attain something by or as if by chance
I happen to know the answer
4
a
: to meet or discover something by chance
happened upon a system that worked—
Richard Corbin
Richard Corbin
b
: to come or go casually : make a chance appearance
he might happen by at any time
5
: to come especially by way of injury or harm
I promise nothing will happen to you
Examples of happen in a Sentence
Something like that was bound to happen sooner or later.
You never know what's going to happen when they get together.
What happened at school today?
“What's happening?” “They're installing new equipment.”
Recent Examples on the Web
While most accounts suggest White Parties were free of criminal activities, other plaintiffs contend their abuse happened at these elite gatherings.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Jake Jordan: Rock weathering happens on Earth all the time.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
This happened somewhere between 5 BBY and 2 BBY (so right about when Andor takes place).
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
What exactly happens after the Sistine Chapel doors close and the highest-ranking members of church leadership get down to the business of electing the next Bishop of Rome?
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happen
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Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Jake Jordan: Rock weathering happens on Earth all the time.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
This happened somewhere between 5 BBY and 2 BBY (so right about when Andor takes place).
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
What exactly happens after the Sistine Chapel doors close and the highest-ranking members of church leadership get down to the business of electing the next Bishop of Rome?
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happen
Cite this Entry
“Happen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happen. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
happen
verb
hap·pen
ˈhap-ən
ˈhap-ᵊm
happened; happening
ˈhap-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to occur or come about by chance
2
: to take place : occur
3
: to have occasion or opportunity
happened to overhear
4
a
: to meet or find something by chance
happened upon the right answer
b
: to appear casually or by chance
happened into the room just as the music started
5
: to come by way of injury or harm
nothing will happen to you
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