happen to
phrasal 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
Chapin arrived in America in the 1600s and happens to be Knight’s ancestor.
—
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Harrison recommends the cherry chocolate shade for its rich color, which happens to pair nicely with her casual bedroom decor.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2025
That happens to coincide with the rise of America to superpower status.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Musk has gotten rid of regulators who just happen to oversee his businesses, in agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and USAID.
—Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025
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Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Harrison recommends the cherry chocolate shade for its rich color, which happens to pair nicely with her casual bedroom decor.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2025
That happens to coincide with the rise of America to superpower status.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Musk has gotten rid of regulators who just happen to oversee his businesses, in agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and USAID.
—Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happen to
Articles Related to happen to
Cite this Entry
“Happen to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happen%20to. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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