happen to

verb

happened to; happening to; happens to
: to affect or involve (someone or something) as the result of an event or action
An odd thing happened to me on my way to the office last week.
I wonder what/whatever happened to that guy after he lost his job.
especially : to affect (someone or something) in a bad or harmful way
I promise nothing will happen to you.
What happened to the car? There's a big scratch on the fender.

Examples of happen to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is expected to be a useful tool in hospitals and nursing homes when exposures happen to vulnerable people. — Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 Supermoon also happens to make some of the wildest gelato in the five boroughs, with pints of pandan & kaya jam, Thai iced tea, and strawberry yuzu matcha. — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026 Tens of thousands of people showing up believing that something was going to happen to them that night, and handing you that certainty. — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 That alone is noteworthy, but the prototype also happens to be a preview of a model expected to debut later this decade. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for happen to

Rhymes for happen to

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Browse Nearby Words

happenstance
happen to
happer
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Cite this Entry

“Happen to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happen%20to. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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