What does “happen” mean?
- 1
verbto take place, especially without being planned
What happened at the meeting?
- 2
verbto do or be something by chance
I happened to see her at the store.
Happen at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈhæpən/ · HAP-un
How to use “happen” correctly
“Happen” has no passive: say “What happened?”, not “What was happened?” Something happens to someone: “What happened to your arm?”
Common phrases with “happen”
- happen to
- what happened
- accidents happen
- as it happens
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- occur
- take place
Word family
- happening
“happen” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- begin verbA1to start doing something or to start happening
- break verbA1to make something separate into pieces or stop working
- bring verbA1to take someone or something with you to a place
- build verbA1to make a building or other structure by putting parts together
- change verbA1to become different, or make someone or something different
- check verbA1to look at something to see if it is correct, safe or as it should be
- close verbA1to shut something, or to stop being open
- come verbA1to move toward the speaker or the place being talked about