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Happen Happened I ˈhæpən Things Accidents Happening Event

Word3 happen
WordType (verb)
Phonetic /ˈhæpən/ /ˈhæpən/
Example
  • 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.
Sound Online sound. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/media/english/us_pron/h/hap/happe/happen__us_1.mp3
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happen

(verb)/ˈhæpən/ /ˈhæpən/

    Verb Forms

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 happened that she was out when we called.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. used to say that it is not possible to know what the result of something will be
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. by chance
    • It just so happened they'd been invited too.
  11. used to express the idea that we must accept that bad things often happen without reason
  12. used to tell somebody not to worry about something they have done
    • ‘Sorry—I've spilt some wine.’ ‘Never mind. These things happen.’

    Word Origin

    • late Middle English (superseding the verb hap): from the noun hap ‘chance’ + -en.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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