happen
1. [ verb ] be a forerunner of or occur earlier than, as in
Synonyms: take_place go_on pass come_about anticipate pass_off fall_out hap occur
Examples:

: "This composition anticipates Impressionism"

Related terms: come work turn_out proceed recur arise concur develop fall fall befall chance go_off anticipate break intervene synchronize give break supervene come_around transpire happening hap
2. [ verb ] come to pass
Synonyms: occur take_place go_on pass come_about pass_off hap
Examples:

"What is happening?" "The meeting took place off without an incidence" "Nothing occurred that seemed important"

Related terms: come anticipate work proceed turn_out arise recur concur develop fall fall befall chance go_off break synchronize give supervene come_around transpire break
3. [ verb ] happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
Synonyms: bechance befall
Examples:

"It happens that today is my birthday" "These things befell" (Santayana)

Related terms: anticipate
4. [ verb ] chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
Examples:

: "I happen to have just what you need!"

Related terms: chance
5. [ verb ] come into being; become reality
Synonyms: materialize materialise
Examples:

"Her dream really materialized"

Related terms: dematerialize anticipate appear offspring materialization materialisation
6. [ verb ] come upon, as if by accident; meet with
Synonyms: find encounter hit bump chance
Examples:

"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"

Related terms: discovery meeting
Similar spelling:   haven
  ha'penny