as in happening
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
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Recent Examples of befalling
Our leaders owe it to all of us to do their utmost to prevent this fate from befalling anyone else.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The problem befalling many a meatball sub is the roll.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Achilles ruptures also decimated the 2025 NBA playoffs, befalling stars such as Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and then-Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard, who now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
—Matt Villano, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
But researchers can advance the potential for new and beneficial drugs while legislators help prevent such tragedies from befalling other families.
—David Kroll, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The problem befalling many a meatball sub is the roll.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Achilles ruptures also decimated the 2025 NBA playoffs, befalling stars such as Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and then-Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard, who now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
—Matt Villano, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025
But researchers can advance the potential for new and beneficial drugs while legislators help prevent such tragedies from befalling other families.
—David Kroll, The Conversation, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befalling
Verb
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Nemes does not give us any time to figure out who’s who and, really, what’s happening, but watching all this furtive tradecraft is compelling enough.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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The legal counterpart to the political momentum That shift is not happening in isolation.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The Suez Canal, however, is an artificial waterway excavated through Egyptian territory, while the Strait of Hormuz is a naturally occurring strait governed by a different legal framework, according to an international law expert.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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Additionally, oats provide plant sterols, or naturally occurring compounds that may modestly reduce intestinal absorption of cholesterol, according to Luciana Soares, DCN, RDN, LDN, FAND.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befalling. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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