happen

happenverb

To happen is to take place, often without anyone planning it.

1. take placetake place, especially without being planned

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] not used in the passive [no passive]

   • What happened? Why is everyone so quiet?
   • The accident happened on a busy road. V + adv/prep
   • I'll call you if anything happens.
   • Things like that happen all the time.

   Collocations

   phrase what happened?, whatever happens, something happens, accidents happen

   verb + adverb happen suddenly, happen again

   Synonyms occur; become

2. to someonebe done to someone or affect them, often in a bad way

   The person or thing that is affected comes after to. Whatever happened to...? asks where someone or something is now.

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • What happened to your arm? V + prep + obj
   • I hope nothing bad has happened to them. V + prep + obj
   • Whatever happened to your old bike? V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition happen to someone, happen to something

3. by chancedo something or be somewhere by chance

   Followed by a to-infinitive, or used as it happens that. In a question (Do you happen to know...?) it makes a request more polite.

   intransitive [I] verb + to-infinitive [V + to-inf] verb + that-clause [V + that]

   • I happened to be at the station when she arrived. V + to-inf
   • Do you happen to know her phone number? V + to-inf
   • It happened that we were staying at the same hotel. V + that (with it as the subject)

   Collocations

   phrase happen to be, happen to know, it happens that