befall

[ bih-fawl ]

/ bɪˈfɔl /

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See synonyms for: befall / befallen / befell on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), be·fell, be·fall·en, be·fall·ing.

to happen or occur.

Archaic. to come, as by right.

verb (used with object), be·fell, be·fall·en, be·fall·ing.

to happen to, especially by chance or fate.

OTHER WORDS FOR befall

1 bechance, ensue, betide, materialize, chance.

See synonyms for befall on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

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IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of befall

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use befall in a sentence

The study highlights issues that befell a few of these nations.
Measles has come back with a vengeance in the last several years|Aimee Cunningham|November 13, 2020|Science News
A double dose of misfortune befell Virginia Tech in the opening minutes, starting with cornerback Brion Murray getting caught out of position on a double move from Yarbrough for a 32-yard touchdown reception that began the scoring.
An ill-timed timeout costs Virginia Tech a TD and a win against No. 25 Liberty|Gene Wang|November 7, 2020|Washington Post
In an interview earlier this year, she reflected on the dizzying instant stardom that once befell Miss Americas — a journey more heady than most of today’s reality TV stars would ever know, she noted, but just as fleeting.
Leanza Cornett, Miss America who was crusading AIDS activist, dies at 49|Amy Argetsinger|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
The turmoil that would befall the country, let alone the economy and the financial markets, in such a situation would be a nightmare that should concentrate the minds of business leaders regardless of party or ideology.
More CEOs must stand up to protect our democracy|matthewheimer|October 20, 2020|Fortune

The same fate will befall the National Football League in September if it doesn’t drastically reimagine its protocol for a return to play.
The NFL season will be a disaster if it doesn’t change course|Adam Epstein|July 27, 2020|Quartz
He continues to be enthralled not so much by Earhart as by the process of determining what exactly befell her and her aircraft.
How Amelia's Plane Was Found|Michael Daly|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pair of films that would follow—Se7en and The Game—avoided many of the pitfalls that befell Aliens3.
David Fincher’s Backseat Feminism|Teo Bugbee|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You could barely be seen, like the fate that befell Brooks Wheelan back in September.
How Did Sasheer Zamata Do in Her Saturday Night Live Debut?|Kevin Fallon|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was the scapegoat for every economic failure that befell the Palestinian people.
Why Palestinians Welcomed Fayyad’s Resignation|Maysoon Zayid|April 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She says she regularly thinks of the tragic fate that befell many of those who have come before her.
‘R&B Divas’: The TV Show That Resurrects a Genre|Allison Samuels|August 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In this depraved state of mind he arrived at Perpignan, where that befell him which I am about to relate.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The sudden destruction which befell them was due in the main to the devotion of these two young heroes.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Nothing befell us that night as we took shelter in the open grounds outside of the city.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Ten days since it befell that Moslem corsairs landed by night at Cefalu, and stormed your father's castle.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
It was the winter before these things befell that the battle with the Jomsborg vikings was fought in Hiorungavag.
The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)|Snorri Sturluson

British Dictionary definitions for befall

befall

/ (bɪˈfɔːl) /

verb -falls, -falling, -fell or -fallen archaic, or literary

(intr) to take place; come to pass

(tr) to happen to

(intr usually foll by to) to be due, as by right

Word Origin for befall

Old English befeallan; related to Old High German bifallan, Dutch bevallen; see be-, fall

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

befall

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Origin of befall

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British Dictionary definitions for befall

Word Origin for befall