happen

happen
hap|pen [ `hæpən ] verb intransitive ***
to take place, usually without being planned:
The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday.
The family was on vacation when the tragedy happened.
He seemed to be unaware of what was happening around him.
What happens if I press this button?
see what happens: Let's just wait and see what happens.
as it happens/it (just so) happens that SPOKEN
used for saying that something is true, although it is surprising:
As it happens, I've got a bike I can lend you.
happen to do something
1. ) to do something by chance:
I happened to meet an old friend in town.
2. ) SPOKEN used for asking something politely:
Do you happen to have a pen I can borrow?
3. ) SPOKEN used for expressing an opinion firmly, because you are angry:
I happen to live here too don't leave your garbage everywhere!
these things happen
used for telling someone not to be upset about something unpleasant that has happened or something bad they have done
whatever happens
used for saying that nothing will change a situation or fact:
Whatever happens tomorrow, this experience has been worth the effort.
`happen a,long or `happen ,by phrasal verb intransitive OLD-FASHIONED
to come to a particular place without planning to
`happen ,on or `happen u,pon phrasal verb transitive OLD-FASHIONED
happen on someone/something to meet someone or find something without planning to
`happen ,to transitive
happen to someone if something happens to you, an event or action takes place which affects you:
This is the best thing that's ever happened to me.
a. happen to something used for talking about the way something changes or develops:
We don't understand what is happening to the economy.
if anything happens to someone
used as a way of avoiding talking directly about something bad that might take place:
I'd never forgive myself if anything has happened to her because I didn't go to meet her.
If anything happens to me (=if I die), you'll have plenty of money to live on.
what (has) happened to something SPOKEN
used for asking where something is:
What happened to the newspaper that was on the table?
what/whatever happened to someone
used for asking where someone is now and what they are doing:
Whatever happened to your friend George?
what/whatever happened to something SPOKEN
used for asking why something does not happen or exist now:
Whatever happened to the idea of being innocent until proven guilty?

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Happen — Happen …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • happen — vb Happen, chance, occur, befall, betide, transpire are comparable when they mean to come to pass or to come about. Happen is the ordinary and general term and may imply either obvious causation or seeming accident, either design or an absence of …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • happen — UK US /ˈhæpən/ verb [I] ► to exist or begin to exist because of an action, situation, or event: » The one course of events no one anticipated was the one that happened: a long period of stagnation that threatened the assumptions of the European… …   Financial and business terms

  • happen — [hap′ən] vi. [ME happenen: see HAP1 & EN] 1. to take place; occur; befall 2. to be or occur by chance or without plan [it happened to rain] 3. to have the luck or occasion; chance [I happened to see it] …   English World dictionary

  • Happen — Hap pen (h[a^]p p n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Happened} ( p nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Happening}.] [OE. happenen, hapnen. See {Hap} to happen.] 1. To come by chance; to come without previous expectation; to fall out. [1913 Webster] There shall no evil… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • happen — ► VERB 1) take place; occur. 2) come about by chance. 3) (happen on) come across by chance. 4) chance to do something or come about. 5) (happen to) be experienced by. 6) ( …   English terms dictionary

  • happen by — ˈhappen a ˌlong ˈhappen ˌby [intransitive] [present tense I/you/we/they happen along he/she/it happens along …   Useful english dictionary

  • happen on — ˈhappen ˌon ˈhappen u ˌpon [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they happen on he/she/it happens on present participle happ …   Useful english dictionary

  • happen to sb — happen to sb/sth ► to affect someone or something in a way that changes something: »Everywhere I go people are becoming more and more depressed by what is happening to their savings. Main Entry: ↑happen …   Financial and business terms

  • Happen — Sm std. (18. Jh.) Stammwort. Aus dem Niederdeutschen; ursprünglich eine Lautgebärde wie auch die Interjektion happ(s), also das Erschnappte . Etwas früher bezeugt ist nndl. happen schnappen ; es könnte aber viel älter sein und die Grundlage von… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • happen — index arise (occur), supervene Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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