as in happened
to take place
whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of befell
Perhaps, then, the back spasms that befell him on May 23 were a blessing.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 May 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
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—
Eissa Dafallah,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 May 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
The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSF’s invasion of Gezira state.
—
Eissa Dafallah,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Those two gave the Longhorns life when misfortune befell them early.
—
Kirk Bohls,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Her father’s memories Bass avoided the pitfalls that befell her father.
—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
In any case, Carlson did not have the luxury of perseverating on what befell him.
—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Tragedy befell Turner’s family in 2018, when his mother succumbed to cancer.
—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befell
Verb
-
When that happened, on July 4, 1778, locals rang the old bell, which had been delivered up the Mississippi from New Orleans, and for a long time locals stored the bell inside the church.
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The incident seemed to spark a bit of life into Morocco as its best passages of play happened afterwards, with Canada seeming to lose a step after starting so well.
Verb
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The bicentennial occurred during an election year, with all the partisan denunciations that entails (though when Jimmy Carter narrowly beat Ford, no one thought of contesting the results).
-
When there is a death in jail, the Sheriff's Office notifies the county, then the commissioner court’s members receive a communication that a death has occurred in custody or jail.
Cite this Entry
“Befell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befell. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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