happened

past tense of happen

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of happened 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. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 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. Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 The lawmaker's report also provided a detailed timeline of what happened that night and what led to the deaths of 25 young girls, two camp counselors and the camp's co-director. Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Whatever happened—injury, illness, flood, or drought—felt preordained, part of God’s grand scheme. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 His lawyer has said that what happened in the bar was a misunderstanding and that Chestnut accepted responsibility for his actions. ABC News, 4 July 2026 What happened next would mark Washington’s connection to the nation’s founding and his place as a historical figure who is still celebrated today in and around the city that bears his name. Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 4 July 2026 Martinez has shared a different version of what happened. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The shooting happened in the 18900 block of Rosemont Avenue. Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happened
Verb
  • 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).
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • 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.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • That came just a few days after news broke that Palantir had secured a $10 billion contract from the US Army over the next decade.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • All five of Bednar’s outs came via strikeout on Wednesday.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The ruling did not address whether there was enough cause to remove Cook, based on the fraud allegations brought forth by the administration.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Police said, according to WBNS, that there was a history of domestic violence in the relationship, and it is believed to be the cause of Creech's death.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Wisconsin Republicans did the same last year, and similar efforts have been raised in other states.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Happened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happened. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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