befall

verb

be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl 

bē-

befell bi-ˈfel 

bē-

; befallen bi-ˈfȯ-lən 

bē-

intransitive verb

: to happen especially as if by fate

transitive verb

: to happen to

the fate that befell them

Synonyms

• be
• betide
• chance
• come
• come about
• come down
• come off
• cook
• do
• go down [slang]
• go on
• hap
• happen
• occur
• pass
• transpire

Examples of befall in a Sentence

It's sad to think of the unhappy fate that befell him.

The drought was only one of many hardships to befall the small country.

Recent Examples on the Web

The statement is hollow so long as people still can stake their dollars on the calamities befalling everyday Angelenos. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

White House officials said on Friday that the truth behind the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome was still unknown, contradicting a new intelligence assessment about what had befallen spies and diplomats for the last nine years. —Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

The act shows dragons to be killable, which means the same fate could easily befall the dragons protecting King's Landing. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

The captives left behind at ESMA suspected that some terrible fate had befallen their comrades. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English befallen, going back to Old English befeallan (parallel to Old High German bifallan "to fall"), from be- be- + feallan "to fall entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

befall

verb

be·​fall bi-ˈfȯl 

befell -ˈfel  ; befallen -ˈfȯ-lən  ; befalling

1

: to take place : happen

2

: to happen to