happen

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English happenen, equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) +‎ -en (verbal suffix).

PronunciationEdit

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhapən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈhæpən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æpən

VerbEdit

happen (third-person singular simple present happens, present participle happening, simple past and past participle happened)

1. To occur or take place.
   • 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21: 

     Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic who still resists the idea that something drastic needs to happen for him to turn his life around.

   Let me tell you how it happened.

2. To occur unexpectedly, by chance or with a low probability.

   Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.

   Do you happen to have an umbrella?

3. (followed by on or upon) To encounter by chance.
   • 1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, ch. 30:

     Unexpectedly, in a nook close by the farmhouse, he happened upon a spot where the vintage had actually commenced.

Usage notesEdit

• This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

• happening
• happenstance

TranslationsEdit

AdverbEdit

happen (not comparable)

1. (obsolete or dialect) maybe, perhaps.

PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ˈɦɑpə(n)/

• Audio

  (file)

VerbEdit

happen (past singular hapte, past participle gehapt)

1. to take a bite

ConjugationEdit

NounEdit

happen

1. Plural form of hap