Definition of: happen

(hap′ən) v.i.
1. To take place or occur; come to pass.
2. To come about or occur by chance or without expectation or design.
3. To chance; have the fortune: We happened to be there.
4. To come by chance: to happen upon the answer.
5. To come or go by chance: with in, along, by, etc.
—to happen to
1. To befall.
2. To become of: What happened to your old friend? [<HAP] Synonyms: bechance, betide, chance, fall, occur, supervene. A thing is said to happen when no design is manifest or thought of; it is said to chance when it appears to be the result of accident (compare synonyms for ACCIDENT). An incident happens or occurs; something external or actual happens to one; a thought or fancy occurs to him. Befall and betide are transitive; happen is intransitive; something befalls or betides a person or happens to him. Betide is especially used for anticipated evil, thought of as waiting and coming at its appointed time; as, Woe betide him. One event supervenes upon another event, one disease upon another, etc.