as in to happen
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
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Recent Examples of befall
Seger’s music also seems to have been less conducive to the sort of right-wing political co-optation that has persistently befallen Springsteen’s, Petty’s, and Mellencamp’s work.
—
Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
That fate can befall even major acts, particularly those from Latin America.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Medicine Humans have long sought to find cures for the ailments and injuries that befall them.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befall
Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Michael’s deal with Pepsi is part of that, and the film’s portrayal of the horrifying accident that befell him during the filming of a Pepsi commercial — a spark set his hair, and scalp, on fire — makes the trauma feel like an outgrowth of Joe’s karma.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
That fate can befall even major acts, particularly those from Latin America.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Medicine Humans have long sought to find cures for the ailments and injuries that befall them.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befall
Verb
-
Little happens other than chain-smoking, costume changes and interminable shots of color-shifting strobe lighting splaying across the cast’s cheekbones.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
Last July, when Colbert announced the end of the Late Show franchise on CBS, many wondered what happens when shows that function as cultural town squares begin to disappear?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
One skirmish occurred in May 2021, when members of Moms for Liberty (M4L) began to target school board meetings in Williamson County, Tennessee.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
The City of Philadelphia soon filed a suit, claiming that any changes to the site must be agreed upon between the city and NPS, which the city says did not occur.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befall. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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