happen

 
Pronunciation: /ˈhap(ə)n/

verb

[no object]
  • 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

[sentence adverb] Northern English
  • perhaps; maybe: happen I’ll go back just for a while

Phrases

as it happens

actually; as a matter of fact: we’ve got a room vacant, as it happens

Origin:

late Middle English (superseding the verb hap): from the noun hap + -en1

Spelling help

Spell happen with a double p and a single n.