as in to occur
to take place
did anything exciting happen over the summer?
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of happen
The shooting happened just before 11:30 p.m. at 3200 Willow Pass Road when a suspect armed with a shotgun entered the store and attempted to force an employee to open the store’s safe, according to the Concord Police Department.
—
Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Feb. 22, according to the Tribune’s archives.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025
This is what happens when the wealthy and powerful aren’t strictly controlled.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
This is heavily used in marketing materials but in my experience isn't what actually happens, even with merino wool.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happen
Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Feb. 22, according to the Tribune’s archives.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025
This is what happens when the wealthy and powerful aren’t strictly controlled.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025
This is heavily used in marketing materials but in my experience isn't what actually happens, even with merino wool.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happen
Verb
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Four major aviation disasters have occurred in 2025, claiming the lives of at least 85 people.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Lawyers representing the students had asked the court to temporarily bar Mr. Musk’s team from sifting through databases that contain identifying information about students and their families, which lawyers behind the lawsuit said had already occurred in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974.—
Zach Montague,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There is one person who takes the blame for what happened today.—
Abid Rahman,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Currently, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Brown revealed her new platinum blonde ‘do at the start of the month, before giving her locks their red carpet debut at Sunday’s 2025 SAG Awards.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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The extraditions were done at the request of the U.S. government as President Donald Trump’s tariff deadline looms.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Happen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happen. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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