hap·pen
Pronounced:
/ˈhæpən/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
hap·pens; hap·pened; hap·pen·ingMeaning:
[no obj] 1 : to take place especially without being planned : occur ▪ Mistakes/Accidents will happen. ▪ Something like that was bound to happen sooner or later. ▪ You never know what's going to happen when they get together. ▪ What happened at school today? ▪ “What's happening?” “They're installing new equipment.”
2 not used in progressive tenses a : to do or be something by chance —followed by to + verb ▪ The children happened to be asleep when we called. ▪ I happened to overhear their conversation. ▪ I happen to know his brother. ▪ Do you happen to know the way to the station? b —used with it to describe something that occurs by chance ▪ It (so) happened that the children were asleep when we called. ▪ It happened to rain that day. ▪ As it happened, it rained that day. ▪ It (just so) happens that I know his brother. c —used to make an angry or forceful statement —followed by to + verb ▪ The woman you've been looking at happens to be my wife! ▪ I happen to think that the movie was actually very good.
2 not used in progressive tenses a : to do or be something by chance —followed by to + verb ▪ The children happened to be asleep when we called. ▪ I happened to overhear their conversation. ▪ I happen to know his brother. ▪ Do you happen to know the way to the station? b —used with it to describe something that occurs by chance ▪ It (so) happened that the children were asleep when we called. ▪ It happened to rain that day. ▪ As it happened, it rained that day. ▪ It (just so) happens that I know his brother. c —used to make an angry or forceful statement —followed by to + verb ▪ The woman you've been looking at happens to be my wife! ▪ I happen to think that the movie was actually very good.
happen along or happen by
[phrasal verb] US literary + old-fashioned : to come to or by a place by chance ▪ He was about to leave when his old girlfriend happened by.
happen into [phrasal verb]
happen into (a place) US : to enter (a place) by chance ▪ She happened into the room just as the music started.
happen on/upon [phrasal verb]
happen on/upon (someone or something) literary + old-fashioned : to find or meet (someone or something) by chance ▪ She happened on a little cottage in the woods. ▪ I happened upon them at the grocery store.
happen to [phrasal verb]
happen to (someone or something) : to affect or involve (someone or something) as the result of an event or action ▪ An odd thing happened to me on my way to the office last week. ▪ I wonder what/whatever happened to that guy. [=I wonder where that guy has gone and what he has been doing] ; especially : to affect (someone or something) in a bad or harmful way ▪ I promise nothing will happen to you. ▪ What happened to the car? There's a big scratch on the fender.