/ 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!
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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 .