happen

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To take place or occur.

   Tell me exactly what happened last night.

2. 2
   verb

   To do or be something by chance.

   I happen to know where she lives.

3. 3
   verb

   To find or meet something or someone by chance.

   We happened upon a lovely little cafe in the old town.

From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).

Topics