HAPPEN


Meaning of HAPPEN in English

/ ˈhæpən; NAmE / verb

1.

[ v ] to take place, especially without being planned :

You'll never guess what's happened!

Accidents like this happen all the time.

Let's see what happens next week.

I'll be there whatever happens .

I don't know how this happened.

2.

[ v ] to take place as the result of sth :

She pressed the button but nothing happened.

What happens if nobody comes to the party?

Just plug it in and see what happens .

3.

to do or be sth by chance :

[ v to inf ]

She happened to be out when we called.

You don't happen to know his name, do you?

[ v that ]

It happened that she was out when we called.

4.

[ v to inf ] used to tell sb sth, especially when you are disagreeing with them or annoyed by what they have said :

That happens to be my mother you're talking about!

IDIOMS

- anything can / might happen

- as it happens / happened

- it (just) so happens that ...

- these things happen

—more at accident , event , shit , wait verb

PHRASAL VERBS

- happen on sth

- happen to sb/sth

••

WORD ORIGIN

late Middle English (superseding the verb hap ): from the noun hap chance + -en .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.