happen

verb [I] (HAVE EXISTENCE)

/ˈhæp.ən/

Definition

A2 (of a situation or an event) to have existence or come into existence: No one knows exactly what happened but several people have been hurt. Anything could happen in the next half hour. A funny thing happened in the office today. I don't like to think what might have happened if he'd been driving any faster.Occurring and happening happen to sb A2 If something happens to someone or something, it has an effect on them and changes them in some way: I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to him (= if he was hurt, became ill, or died). What happened to your jacket? There's a big rip in the sleeve. What's happened to my pen? (= Where is it?) I put it down there a few moments ago.Occurring and happening

(Definition of happen verb (HAVE EXISTENCE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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