happen
verb OPAL S
/ˈhæpən/
/ˈhæpən/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they happen | /ˈhæpən/ /ˈhæpən/ |
| he / she / it happens | /ˈhæpənz/ /ˈhæpənz/ |
| past simple happened | /ˈhæpənd/ /ˈhæpənd/ |
| past participle happened | /ˈhæpənd/ /ˈhæpənd/ |
| -ing form happening | /ˈhæpənɪŋ/ /ˈhæpənɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to take place, especially without being planned
- You'll never guess what's happened!
- Accidents like this happen all the time.
- The most recent incident happened only a week ago.
- The government has denied that the events ever happened.
- Change doesn't happen overnight.
- You have to make things happen.
- Let's see what happens next week.
- I'll be there whatever happens.
- No matter what happens, he's going to pay for what he's done.
- Is this really happening or is it a dream?
- This would never happen in real life.
- I don't know how this happened.
- I try to keep up with what is happening in the world.
Extra Examples- I don't remember learning to swim, it just happened.
- Mistakes are bound to happen sometimes.
- She couldn't quite believe that all this was actually happening to her.
- Sometimes fun activities just happen spontaneously; at other times they take careful planning.
- You have to make things happen if you want them to happen.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- actually
- really
- just
- …
- be going to
- be likely to
- be bound to
- …
- to
- [intransitive] to take place as the result of something
- She pressed the button but nothing happened.
- What happens if nobody comes to the party?
- Just plug it in and see what happens.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- actually
- really
- just
- …
- be going to
- be likely to
- be bound to
- …
- to
- [transitive] happen to be/do something to do or be something by chance
- She happened to be out when we called.
- You don't happen to know his name, do you?
- This happens to be my favourite restaurant.
- The door happened to be unlocked.
- it happens that… It happened that she was out when we called.
- [transitive] happen to be/do something used to tell somebody something, especially when you are disagreeing with them or annoyed by what they have said
- That happens to be my mother you're talking about!
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- attempt
- beg
- choose
- consent
- decide
- expect
- fail
- happen
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- swear
- try
- want
- wish
Word Originlate Middle English (superseding the verb hap): from the noun hap ‘chance’ + -en.
Idioms
an accident/a disaster waiting to happen
- a thing or person that is very likely to cause danger or a problem in the future because of the condition it is in or the way they behave
- Any one of these nuclear plants may be a disaster waiting to happen.
accidents will happen
- people say accidents will happen to tell somebody who has had an accident, for example breaking something, that it does not matter and they should not worry
anything can/might happen
- used to say that it is not possible to know what the result of something will be
as it happens/happened
- used when you say something that is surprising, or something connected with what somebody else has just said
- I agree with you, as it happens.
- As it happens, I have a spare set of keys in my office.
in the event of something | in the event that something happens
- if something happens
- In the event of an accident, call this number.
- Sheila will inherit everything in the event of his death.
- In the unlikely event of a crash, please remain calm.
it (just) so happens that…
- by chance
- It just so happened they'd been invited too.
shit happens
- (taboo, slang) used to express the idea that we must accept that bad things often happen without reason
these things happen
- used to tell somebody not to worry about something they have done
- ‘Sorry—I've spilt some wine.’ ‘Never mind. These things happen.’