|
|
- pronunciation:
- hae
p
 n
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
happens, happening, happened |
| definition 1: |
If an accident happened last night, it means that there was an accident last night. If there was a storm last night, we might say that a storm happened last night. Things like breaking a leg, getting sick, becoming rich, or winning a prize are some of the many things that happen in people's lives.
Sometimes you can't wait to hear the end of a story because you want to know what happens.Gabe came back from his friend's house crying, and his mom asked him what happened.- synonyms:
- fall, occur, take place
- similar words:
- be, come
|
| definition 2: |
When you happen to do something, you do it just by chance or by luck. If you happen to live next door to your best friend, it is only by chance that the two of you live next door. It wasn't planned by anyone.
Jesse was going to visit his grandparents in Chicago, and a friend from school happened to be on the same airplane. They were both surprised.Do you happen to know this person? |
| definition 3: |
When you happen upon something, you find it just by chance. If you happen upon your lost sock, it means that you found it even though you were not looking for it.
The detective happened on a clue that helped him solve the crime.- similar words:
- come
|
| related words: |
exist, result |
|
|