happen to

phrasal verb transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they
he/she/it	happens to
present participle	happening to
past tense	happened to
past participle	happened to

1
(happen to someone) if something happens to you, an event or action takes place which affects you
This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to happen
happen
come about
occur
1. 1a
  (happen to something) used for talking about the way that something changes or develops
  We don’t understand what is happening to the economy.
  Synonyms and related words
  To become different
  transition
  change
  turn into
2
if anything happens to someoneused as a way of avoiding talking directly about something bad that might take place
I’d never forgive myself if anything has happened to her because I didn’t go to meet her.
If anything happens to me (=if I die), you’ll have plenty of money to live on.
Synonyms and related words
Expressions used to talk about worries
I dread to think
if anything happens to someone
what has/will become of
3
what (has) happened to somethingspokenused for asking where something is
What happened to the newspaper that was on the table?
Synonyms and related words
Ways of asking questions and making requests
any chance of...?
any luck?
any requests?
4
what/whatever happened to someoneused for asking where someone is now and what they are doing
Whatever happened to your friend George?
Synonyms and related words
Ways of asking questions and making requests
any chance of...?
any luck?
any requests?
5
what/whatever happened to somethingspokenused for asking why something does not happen or exist now
Whatever happened to the idea of being innocent until proven guilty?
Synonyms and related words
Ways of asking questions and making requests
any chance of...?
any luck?
any requests?