happen
verb [I] (CHANCE) /ˈhæp.ən/Definition
C1 to do or be by chance: [+ to infinitive] They happened to look (= looked by chance) in the right place almost immediately. [+ (that)] Fortunately it happened (that) there was no one in the house at the time of the explosion. [+ that] It just so happens that I have her phone number right here. She happens to like cleaning (= she likes cleaning, although that is surprising). I happen to think he's right (= I do think so, although you do not). As it happened (= although it was not planned), I had a few minutes to spare.Chance and randomness
(Definition of happen verb (CHANCE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Chance and randomness, but you might be interested in these topics from the Chance and possibility topic area:
Browse the Thesaurus
More Results for “happen”
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- arbitrary adjective (CHANCE)
- as luck would have it idiom
- be the luck of the draw idiom
- casual adjective (CHANCE)
- chance noun (POSSIBILITY)
- circumstance noun
- coincidence noun
- fluke noun
- fortuitous adjective
- haphazard adjective
- happenstance noun
- long shot noun
- lottery noun
- luck into sth phrasal verb
- luck noun
- more by accident than design idiom
- more by luck than judgment idiom
- pot luck noun
- random adjective
- stochastic adjective
Topic:
Chance and randomness
Word of the Day
ride (out) the storm
to manage not to be destroyed, harmed or permanently affected by the difficult situation you...
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
