happen meaning and definition

HAPPEN verb

Definition of happen (verb)

1. come to pass
   • "What is happening?"; "The meeting took place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that seemed important"
   • synonyms: come about, fall out, go on, hap, occur, pass, pass off, take place
2. happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
   • "It happens that today is my birthday"; "These things befell" (Santayana)
   • synonyms: bechance, befall
3. chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
   • "I happen to have just what you need!"
4. come into being; become reality
   • "Her dream really materialized"
   • synonyms: materialise, materialize
   • antonym: dematerialise
5. come upon, as if by accident; meet with
   • "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"
   • synonyms: bump, chance, encounter, find