befall

American  

[bih-fawl] / bɪˈfɔl /

verb (used without object)

befalls, present (3rd person singular) befell, past befallen, past participle befalling present participle

1. to happen or occur.

   Synonyms:

   chance, materialize, betide, ensue, bechance

2. Archaic. to come, as by right.

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verb (used with object)

befalls, present (3rd person singular) befell, past befallen, past participle befalling present participle

1. to happen to, especially by chance or fate.

befall British  

/ bɪˈfɔːl /

verb

1. (intr) to take place; come to pass

2. (tr) to happen to

3. to be due, as by right

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have befallen
  perfect
• has befallen
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been befalling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• befalling
  participle
• am befalling
  progressive 1st person singular
• is befalling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• befalls
  singular 3rd person
• are befalling
  progressive
• have been befalling
  perfect progressive

Past

• had befallen
  perfect
• had been befalling
  perfect progressive
• were befalling
  progressive plural
• befell
  simple
• was befalling
  progressive singular
• befallen
  participle

Future

• will befall
  simple
• will have befallen
  perfect
• will be befalling
  progressive
• will have been befalling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of befall

before 900; Middle English befallen, Old English befeallan. See be-, fall (v.)

Explanation

Befall is an old-fashioned or literary way of saying something happened by chance. Bad luck befalls a heroine who drops her lucky rabbit foot. When something befalls you, it’s like bad luck falling on you. An earthquake can befall a city. A terrible disease could befall a child. A bolt of lightning could befall a very unlucky person. When something befalls you, you’re in trouble. Tragedies befall families in many of Shakespeare’s plays — that’s what makes them so much fun.

Related Words

• ensue
• materialize
• transpire