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Added 8 October 2026

happen

/ˈhæpən/ verb

In Latin: fiō, accidō, contingo Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about happen at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To occur or take place.
Let me tell you how it happened.
To happen to; to befall.
To do or occur by chance or unexpectedly.
Take an umbrella in case it happens to rain.

adverb

maybe, perhaps.

Origin

From Middle English happenen, hapnen, augmented from Middle English happen (“to come to pass, happen”), perhaps from Old English hæppan (“to move accidentally, slip”) and/or from Old Norse *happa, *heppa, from Proto-Germanic *hampijaną (“to fit in, be fitting”). Equivalent to hap (“a chance, occurrence, byfall”) + -en (verbal suffix).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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