happens
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
An inflected form of happen · third-person singular.
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,867 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 5,752 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- come to pass also: hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out What is happening?The meeting took place off without an incidence
- happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance also: befall, bechance It happens that today is my birthdayThese things befell
- chance to be or do something, without intention or causation I happen to have just what you need!
- come into being; become reality also: materialize, materialise Her dream really materialized
- come upon, as if by accident; meet with also: find, chance, bump, encounter We find this idea in PlatoI happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
happens in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
It's enough to upset one when a thing like this happens.
Plays : First Series · John Galsworthy · Chapter 1
-
Observe what happens when some brewer's wife chooses to spend £5000 on a ball.
The Ethics of Drink and Other Social · James Runciman · Chapter 1
-
This only happens once in two years, so you will let me go out?’
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
-
As often happens in such cases, the testimony of this poacher sufficed to bring other defenders to Miette’s aid.
The Fortune of the Rougons · Émile Zola · Chapter 1
-
Followed by his sponsor he obeys and what happens at the room no one but the men of the society know.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1