INDEX:
1. to happen
2. when what you want or expect happens
3. ways of saying something happens to someone or something
4. to happen with a good or bad result
5. ways of saying that something is happening
6. to happen again
7. something that happens, that is not planned
8. something planned that happens
9. a series of bad things that happen at the same time
10. when a lot of things happen
RELATED WORDS
when you think something is unlikely to happen : ↑ DOUBT
when something happens by chance : ↑ CHANCE
see also
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1. to happen
▷ happen /ˈhæpən/ [intransitive verb]
▪ The accident happened at two o'clock this afternoon.
▪ What’s happened? Why are you crying?
▪ The strangest thing happened when I was in Singapore.
▪ Before I realised what was happening, the man had grabbed my bag and run off with it.
anything can/could/might happen
used to say that it is uncertain what will happen
▪ You mustn’t go there alone at night. Anything might happen!
▷ take place /ˌteɪk ˈpleɪs/ [verb phrase]
to happen - use this about events, performances, ceremonies and other things that have been planned to happen :
▪ The wedding will take place at St Andrew’s church.
▪ Police are trying to prevent the demonstration from taking place.
▷ there is /ðeər ɪz/ [verb phrase]
if there is an event, accident, change etc, it happens :
▪ There’s a concert at the school next Saturday.
▪ There has been a major accident on the Santa Monica Freeway.
▪ I’ll let you know if there’s any change in our plans.
▷ be /bi, strong biː/ [verb]
if a planned event is at a particular time or place, it happens or is arranged to happen at that time or place :
▪ Dinner is at eight, so come at about half past seven.
▪ Christmas will be on a Saturday next year.
▪ Last year’s degree ceremony was in the main university building.
▷ occur /əˈkɜːʳ/ [intransitive verb] formal
to happen - use this especially about things that have not been planned or that people do not expect :
▪ Major earthquakes like this occur very rarely.
▪ The court will have to decide exactly what occurred on the night Mellor died.
▷ come about /ˌkʌm əˈbaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
to happen, especially as a result of earlier events or decisions :
▪ Our problems came about because we ignored the advice of experts.
▪ A number of educational reforms have come about as a result of the report.
come about through
▪ The decrease in the number of salmon has come about through commercial overfishing.
how did it come about that
▪ How did it come about that she married an awful man like that?
▷ crop up /ˌkrɒp ˈʌpǁˌkrɑːp-/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
if something such as a problem crops up, it happens suddenly and unexpectedly :
▪ A couple of problems cropped up while you were away.
▪ If anything crops up, give me a call.
▪ You have to learn to deal with difficult situations when they crop up.
▷ come up /ˌkʌm ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if something, especially a problem or a chance to do something comes up, it happens unexpectedly :
▪ He rang to say he would be late home -- something had come up at the office.
▪ There are job vacancies from time to time. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.
▪ When the opportunity to go to the States came up, Dora took it at once.
▷ be coming up /biː ˌkʌmɪŋ ˈʌp/ [verb phrase]
if a planned event is coming up, it will happen soon :
▪ Don’t forget you’ve got exams coming up in a couple of weeks’ time.
▪ Our 12th annual Folk Festival is coming up again soon.
▷ turn up /ˌtɜːʳn ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if something such as a job or a chance to do something turns up, it happens or becomes available, especially through good luck :
▪ Ben’s been looking for a job for two months, but nothing good’s turned up.
▪ I’d almost given up hope of finding a house I liked, and then suddenly this one turned up.
▷ arise /əˈraɪz/ [intransitive verb not usually in progressive] formal
if a problem or difficult situation arises, it happens and comes to your attention :
▪ It would be best to deal with these issues at once, before a crisis arises.
arise over
▪ Several problems have arisen recently over questions of pay.
arise from
as a result of something
▪ The conflict arose from tensions between the different ethnic groups.
▷ strike /straɪk/ [intransitive verb]
if something unpleasant strikes, it suddenly happens :
▪ It is always devastating when this illness strikes.
▪ Most people were fast asleep when the hurricane struck at 4.05 pm.
2. when what you want or expect happens
▷ happen /ˈhæpən/ [intransitive verb]
▪ We’d always feared that this might happen.
▪ For some time there had been predictions of a major earthquake, and then on April 19, 1906, it happened.
▪ I want to make things up with her, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.
▷ come true /ˌkʌm ˈtruː/ [verb phrase]
if your wishes, dreams etc come true, what you have wished for or dreamed about actually happens :
▪ Patterson’s dream came true when he won the Boston marathon on his first attempt.
▪ People say that if you make a wish at the top of the hill, it always comes true.
▷ be realized also be realised British /biː ˈrɪəlaɪzd/ [verb phrase]
if your expectations, hopes, fears etc are realized, what you expected or hoped for actually happens :
▪ At thirty-five her ambition of running her own business was finally realized.
▪ My worst fears were realised when I saw what was on the exam paper.
▷ be fulfilled /biː fʊlˈfɪld/ [verb phrase]
if a wish or promise is fulfilled, what someone wished for or was promised actually happens :
▪ Tom decided to run the farm himself, so that his father’s wish might be fulfilled.
▪ We knew that the ‘democratic elections’ were a promise which would not be fulfilled.
▷ materialize also materialise British /məˈtɪ ə riəlaɪz/ [intransitive verb usually in negative sentences]
if an event which has been planned, expected, or promised materializes, it actually happens :
▪ Even if the salary rise materialises, it won’t be worth much.
▪ It was rumoured that Apple would be sold to Sun Microsystems, but that deal never materialized.
fail to materialize
not happen
▪ The promised recovery failed to materialize and unemployment kept on rising.
3. ways of saying something happens to someone or something
▷ happen to /ˈhæpən tuː/ [verb phrase not in passive]
if something happens to someone or something, it happens and has an effect on them, usually a bad effect :
▪ I wonder what’s happened to Dave. He should have been here by now.
▪ A lot of people don’t seem to care about what is happening to the environment.
it can happen to anyone
use this to emphasize that something is not someone’s fault
▪ The crash wasn’t her fault, it could have happened to anyone.
▪
▷ experience /ɪkˈspɪ ə riəns/ [transitive verb]
if someone experiences something such as a problem, a difficult situation etc, it happens to them :
▪ Many local companies have recently been experiencing financial difficulties.
experience difficulties/problems etc with
▪ They’ve experienced a lot of problems with their eldest son.
experience something at first hand
experience something personally
▪ It is shocking to think of boys as young as sixteen experiencing at first hand the horrors of war.
▷ undergo /ˌʌndəʳˈgəʊ/ [transitive verb]
if someone or something undergoes a change or an unpleasant event, it happens to them or it is done to them :
▪ He has undergone tremendous emotional problems following the breakdown of his marriage.
▪ In the last few years the museum has undergone extensive renovation.
▪ Part of Mrs Galley’s right arm was shattered and she underwent a five-hour emergency operation.
▷ meet with /ˈmiːt wɪð/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to get a particular reaction, especially an unpleasant one, from other people :
▪ The initial plan to sell off part of the company met with intense criticism.
meet with something from somebody
▪ Many working women still meet with prejudice from men.
▪ Rebel forces entered the town and met with no resistance from government troops.
4. to happen with a good or bad result
▷ turn out /ˌtɜːʳn ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to happen so that the final result is good, bad, unexpected etc :
▪ We were worried when only twenty people came to the party but it turned out very well.
▪ How did things turn out in the end?
turn out to be something
▪ I was a bit doubtful at first, but it turned out to be a really good idea.
not turn out as planned/expected
▪ We wanted the baby to be born at home, but it didn’t quite turn out as planned.
as it turned out
used to say that this is what happened in the end
▪ As it turned out, James was delayed and didn’t arrive until three.
▷ work out/pan out /ˌwɜːʳk ˈaʊt, ˌpæn ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb] informal
to happen with a particular result, especially a successful or unsuccessful one :
▪ Some election campaigns work out better than others.
▪ We had a few problems when Jake first gave up work, but things are panning out very well now.
▪ I’m not sure if we’ll decide to get married or not - we’ll wait and see how things work out.
▷ go /gəʊ/ [intransitive verb]
go well/badly/smoothly etc
if something such as an arranged event or someone’s work goes well, badly etc, it happens in a way that is successful, unsuccessful etc :
▪ Did the party go well?
▪ Things went badly for the company last year. Their profits are down by 50%.
▪ How’s the job going these days?
▷ go off /ˌgəʊ ˈɒf/ [intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
go off well/successfully/smoothly etc
if an arranged event goes off well, successfully etc, it happens and is completed without any problems :
▪ Thanks to the helpful staff at the hotel, the conference went off very well.
▪ I’m sure that everything will go off smoothly on the day.
go off without a hitch
happen without any problems
▪ Everyone was relieved when the ceremony at the Ambassador’s residence went off without a hitch.
5. ways of saying that something is happening
▷ be happening /biː ˈhæp ə nɪŋ/ [verb phrase]
▪ She looked out of the window to see what was happening.
▪ Property prices continue to rise and we still don’t understand exactly why it’s happening.
what’s happening?
▪ The room began to shake and we stared at each other in terror. ‘What’s happening?’ asked Robert.
▷ be going on /biː ˌgəʊɪŋ ˈɒn/ [verb phrase]
if something is going on it is happening, especially if it makes you feel worried or annoyed :
▪ It was obvious from the way they kept looking at each other that there was something going on.
what’s going on?
▪ ‘What’s going on at the town hall?’ asked my mother. ‘There’s a huge crowd of people there.’
▷ be in progress /biː ɪn ˈprəʊgresǁ-ˈprɑː-/ [verb phrase] formal
if an arranged event, game, or operation is in progress, it has started and has not finished yet :
▪ By the time we got to the stadium, the match was already in progress.
▪ There must be no noise in the school while examinations are in progress.
▪ An emergency relief operation is already in progress in Southern Sudan.
▷ be on /biː ˈɒn/ [verb phrase]
to be happening now or to be going to happen :
▪ The summer sales are on next week.
▪ People have to learn to economize when there is a war on.
▪ The presidential election was on when we arrived in the States.
▷ be in full swing /biː ɪn ˌfʊl ˈswɪŋ/ [verb phrase]
if an organized activity or an event such as a party is in full swing, it has already been happening for some time and people are taking part in a very active way :
▪ By 10 o'clock the party was in full swing and everyone was dancing.
▪ Barcelona was full of visitors, and preparations for the Olympic Games were in full swing.
▷ be in operation /biː ɪn ˌɒpəˈreɪʃ ə nǁ-ˌɑːp-/ [verb phrase]
if a plan or a system is in operation, it is being used and is working :
▪ Over 20 training programmes are in operation, with almost 2000 trainees.
6. to happen again
▷ happen again /ˌhæpən əˈgen/ [verb phrase]
▪ She apologized for the incident and promised it wouldn’t happen again.
▪ I think I’ve solved the problem with your computer, but let me know if it happens again.
▷ recur /rɪˈkɜːʳ/ [intransitive verb] formal
to happen again, once or repeatedly :
▪ Although the treatment for skin cancer is usually successful, the problem can recur later.
▪ Some people find that the same dream keeps recurring over a period of many years.
recurrence /rɪˈkʌrənsǁ-ˈkɜːr-/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when something happens again :
▪ She reported several recurrences of the same technical fault.
▷ repetition/repeat /ˌrepɪˈtɪʃ ə n, ˌrepəˈtɪʃ ə n, rɪˈpiːt/ [countable noun]
an event or action that is the same as something that happened before :
repetition/repeat of
▪ Hopefully, the experience will help us to avoid a repetition of our mistakes.
▪ A lot of the lesson was just a repetition of what we’d already done.
▪ Will next Saturday’s game be a repeat of Germany’s triumph last season?
▷ repeat performance /rɪˌpiːt pəʳˈfɔːʳməns/ [countable noun]
something that happens in exactly the same way as it happened before, usually with all the same problems :
▪ The journey to work had taken hours that morning, and I wasn’t looking forward to a repeat performance on the way home.
repeat performance of
▪ We must try to make this summer camp a success. We don’t want a repeat performance of last year’s disaster.
▷ repeat itself /rɪˈpiːt ɪtself/ [verb phrase]
use this to say that things happen again in just the same way :
▪ Stricter controls of farming methods are needed, if we want to prevent the disaster from repeating itself.
history repeats itself
▪ The Cambodian people were afraid that history would repeat itself.
7. something that happens, that is not planned
▷ event /ɪˈvent/ [countable noun]
something that happens, especially something that is important or interesting :
▪ Meeting Professor Kearney was an event which changed my life.
▪ The book discusses the events leading up to the outbreak of World War Two.
▪ The evening meal is a time when all the family can get together and discuss the day’s events.
chain/sequence of events
the order in which events happened
▪ Police are attempting to reconstruct the sequence of events on the night of the killing.
the course of events
the way that events happened
▪ Nothing we could have done would have changed the course of events.
▷ thing /θɪŋ/ [countable noun] informal
something that happens :
▪ So many things have happened since I last saw you.
a funny thing happened
▪ A funny thing happened to me on the way to work this morning.
not remember a thing
used to emphasize that you do not remember what happened
▪ When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t remember a thing.
▷ occurrence /əˈkʌrənsǁəˈkɜː-/ [countable noun] formal
something that happens, use this especially to say whether something happens often or not often :
a common/daily/frequent etc occurrence
▪ Vicious fights and arguments were a daily occurrence in the shipyards.
▪ Earthquakes are an unusual occurrence in England but are not totally unknown.
▷ incident /ˈɪnsɪd ə nt, ˈɪnsəd ə nt/ [countable noun]
something that happens, especially something that is unusual or unpleasant or something that is part of a longer series of events :
▪ Apart from the incident in Las Vegas our vacation was completely trouble-free.
▪ One violent incident turned into a political and family tragedy.
a bomb/shooting/terrorist etc incident
used especially in news reports
▪ Friday’s shooting incident in East London led to several arrests.
without incident
without anything unpleasant happening
▪ The fans were well behaved, and the game was played without incident.
▷ happening /ˈhæp ə nɪŋ/ [countable noun]
something that happens, especially something that is strange or unusual :
▪ The happenings of the last two days had left me feeling dazed.
▪ ‘The X Files’ is a fictional television programme about strange, unexplained happenings.
▷ phenomenon /fɪˈnɒmɪnən, fɪˈnɒmənənǁfɪˈnɑːmə̇nɑːn, -nən/ [countable noun] plural phenomena /-nə/
a natural or social process that can be seen or is known to happen, and is often studied :
▪ We now know that our system of planets orbiting the sun is not a unique phenomenon.
▪ The cell phone is a relatively recent phenomenon. It’s difficult at the moment to assess its effects.
phenomenon of
▪ the increasing phenomenon of the single parent family
natural phenomenon
▪ A thorough understanding of mathematics is sufficient to explain a wide variety of natural phenomena.
8. something planned that happens
▷ event /ɪˈvent/ [countable noun]
something that happens that has been planned and arranged, for example a party, performance, or sports competition :
▪ Joe’s party was a splendid event - about 200 people were there.
annual event
an event that takes place every year
▪ The town’s beer festival is an annual event.
social/sporting event
▪ We have a full programme of social events that take place throughout the year.
a golfing/media/diplomatic etc event
▪ The Ryder Cup is the big golfing event this month.
▷ occasion /əˈkeɪʒ ə n/ [countable noun]
an important social event, ceremony, or celebration :
big/important/special occasion
▪ She was saving four bottles of their best champagne for a special occasion.
▪ Thanksgiving is a really big occasion in the States.
celebrate the occasion
▪ It’s our wedding anniversary next month, and we’re having a party to celebrate the occasion.
quite an occasion
a very exciting or important occasion
▪ It was quite an occasion. All the local dignitaries were there, dressed in their finest clothes.
▷ proceedings /prəˈsiːdɪŋz/ [plural noun]
all the things which happen during an official meeting or discussion, especially in a court of law or in parliament :
▪ You can sit along the back wall of the courtroom to watch the proceedings.
▪ The chairman usually takes charge of the proceedings and decides who will speak next.
9. a series of bad things that happen at the same time
▷ affair /əˈfeəʳ/ [countable noun usually singular]
something that happens, especially something unpleasant or shocking, that usually involves several people and several events :
▪ The court case was an awful affair that dragged on for months.
▪ The whole world was waiting for the outcome of the Watergate affair.
▪ Nick Leeson had to serve a prison term in Singapore for his part in the affair.
▷ business /ˈbɪznɪs, ˈbɪznəs/ [singular noun]
a set of connected events which you think are unpleasant, shocking, annoying etc :
▪ It was a nasty business. In the end, she killed herself, you know.
the whole business (of something)
▪ I don’t want to argue about this any more -- I’m sick of the whole business.
▪ The whole business of getting a visa can take a very long time.
▷ goings-on /ˌgəʊɪŋz ˈɒn/ [plural noun] informal
things that have been happening somewhere, especially ones that surprise, annoy, or amuse you :
▪ I could hardly believe it when he told me about the goings-on in his office.
▪ According to Gwen, there had been some very strange goings-on in the upstairs apartment.
▷ scenes /siːnz/ [plural noun]
things that are happening at the same time in the same place involving a lot of people, all behaving in an angry, excited etc way :
▪ Angry scenes in Parliament followed the minister’s statement.
▪ The airport was full of the usual emotional scenes, and people saying ‘goodbye’.
10. when a lot of things happen
▷ eventful /ɪˈventf ə l/ [adjective]
a period of time that is eventful is one during which a lot of interesting or important things happen :
▪ It has been an eventful week in politics, with the resignations of three Presidential advisers.
▪ When Marilyn Monroe died the press was anxious to uncover every aspect of her eventful career.
highly eventful
▪ The General’s last two years were to prove highly eventful for him and the country.
▷ action-packed /ˈækʃ ə n pækt/ [adjective usually before noun]
action-packed holiday/trip/film etc
a holiday trip etc during which you do a lot of exciting things or during which a lot of exciting things happen :
▪ We provide action-packed holidays for children including riding, sailing, rock-climbing, and canoeing.
▪ another action-packed adventure movie starring Harrison Ford