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- pronunciation:
- hae
pn
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Grammatical Patterns
part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
inflections: |
happens, happening, happened |
definition 1: |
to take place; occur.
Many accidents have happened at this street corner.We can't predict what will happen in our lives.You broke your leg? When did that happen?- synonyms:
- come to pass, fall, occur, pass, take place
- similar words:
- arise, be, befall, betide, come, ensue, eventuate, transpire
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definition 2: |
to occur or take place by chance or coincidence.
These things happen; there isn't always a reason.- synonyms:
- chance
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definition 3: |
to encounter by chance (usu. fol. by "on" or "upon").
I happened upon him this morning in the park.- synonyms:
- chance, stumble
- similar words:
- bump into, come, hit, run across
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definition 4: |
to have the accidental lot, luck, or misfortune (to be in a specified situation or do something specified); chance.
A deer just happened to be in the road at the moment we came around the curve.[verb + infinitive
]
My next door neighbor and I happened to get seats right next to each other on the plane.[verb + infinitive
]
Aren't we lucky? I just happen to have a cork screw in my pocket.[verb + infinitive
]
It happened that he and his ex-wife had both reserved tables at the restaurant on the same night.[it + verb + that + clause
]
The cafe was extremely busy, but there happened to be a table just opening up as we arrived.[there + verb + to be/infinitive
]
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related words: |
break, exist, intervene, materialize, result |
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