happen

verb

• 1take place; occur:two hours had passed and still nothing had happened the accident happened at 7.40 a.m.
• ensue as an effect or result of an action or event:this is what happens when the mechanism goes wrong
• [with infinitive] chance to do something or come about:we just happened to meet Paul there happens to be a clash of personalities
• [with clause] come about by chance:it just so happened that she turned up that afternoon
• (happen on) find or come across by chance:I happened on a street with a few modest restaurants
• [with infinitive] used as a polite formula in questions:do you happen to know who her doctor is?

• 2 (happen to) be experienced by (someone); befall:the same thing happened to me
• become of:I don’t care what happens to the money

adverb

• perhaps; maybe:happen I’ll go back just for a while