happen
verb (used without object)
to take place; come to pass; occur.
happened
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past participleof happen.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof happen.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
happenverb (used without object)to take place; come to pass; occur.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It has happened in some races, but in other areas it has not.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The crash happened between junction 3 and junction 4 of the M9 motorway, at Moone, at about 03:00 local time on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The last time this happened was more than a decade ago, when Louis Vuitton’s sales were sluggish because consumers had grown tired of logoed designs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
All of this happened before this latest war against Hamas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
“Oh, a lot happened, a whole lifetime of happenings. But I think I shall keep it short. I am suddenly rather tired. And you must be too. Well, here is how the story ends…”
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
