happen Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb come to pass
    fall out; pass off; come about; pass; hap; take place; occur; go on.
    • What is happening?
    • The meeting took place off without an incidence
    • Nothing occurred that seemed important
  2. verb happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
    befall; bechance.
    • It happens that today is my birthday
    • These things befell" (Santayana)
  3. verb chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
    • I happen to have just what you need!
  4. verb come into being; become reality
    materialize; materialise.
    • Her dream really materialized
  5. verb come upon, as if by accident; meet with
    chance; bump; find; encounter.
    • We find this idea in Plato
    • I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
    • She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day

WordNet

Hap"pen intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. happenen, hapnen. See Hap to happen.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Happened ; present participle & verbal noun Happening
Definitions
  1. To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out.
    There shall no evil happen to the just. Prov. xii. 21.
  2. To take place; to occur.
    All these things which had happened. Luke xxiv. 14.

Webster 1913