Thesaurus results for BEFALLS

befalls

verb

present tense third-person singular of befall

as in happens

to take place whatever befalls, we'll make the best of it and carry on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of befalls Such is the fate that befalls Meta, whose shares fell as much as 10% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company missed earnings due to costs ballooning 55% (Meta’s stock later recovered some ground and was down 7%). — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Hell House takes its time spinning the tale of misfortune that befalls the central investigators. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 Despite growing up with the warnings of skin cancer, Gen Z is falling for the tanning craze that befalls most generations. — Sam Woodward, USA Today, 12 June 2026 Elsewhere, an unspeakable tragedy that befalls a fellow factory worker further establishes the plight of young girls across China’s recent history. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026 When a mysterious illness befalls the king, Prince Tristan is lured into a dangerous quest, while his younger brother William — neurodivergent and non-verbal — uncovers the plot at home. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 May 2026 But perhaps the biggest tragedy that befalls many bands is growing apart. — Katie Gavin, Time, 8 May 2026 There’s a segment of the audience that practically swoons when good news befalls some of the cast at the end of the play. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 The family soon joins a group of ravers in a journey across the Sahara Desert, where surreal tragedy after surreal tragedy befalls them. — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for befalls

Verb

When your braking system is working optimally, much of the shock absorption happens in the larger posterior chain muscles of the back of your body — specifically your lower back, glutes, hamstrings and calves.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
And as that happens, financing and scale begin to matter more than owning the frontier model itself.

— Amit Joshi, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of happens

Verb

Heatstroke occurs when the body’s natural cooling system fails and core temperatures climb to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
State law bars using the fund for anything other than workers’ comp claims and costs, and while DIR calls the practice standard and says reimbursement occurs, the department has declined to demonstrate it.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of occurs

Browse Nearby Words

befalling

befalls

befell

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Befalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befalls. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of befalls

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on befalls

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes