befall
verb (used without object)
to happen or occur.
had befallen
-
past perfectof befall.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Rodríguez, who could use the crisis to strengthen her hold on power, has highlighted the successes of the response while acknowledging the grave catastrophe that had befallen her country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
She believed that the only way for her characters to overcome the horrible circumstances that had befallen them was to band together and fight the giant corporate farms that were overtaking the agricultural industry.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2024
For a long time during Shuang Xuetao’s early teenage years, he wondered what hidden disaster had befallen his family.
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2024
That bankruptcy sale, in turn, capped the bizarre misfortunes that had befallen a beloved player in Skagit County’s nursery sector.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
After all that had befallen her, the shame of betraying those who made possible her escape.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
