happened

verb

past tense of happen
as in occurred
to take place did anything exciting happen over the summer?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of happened A lot of things happened over the course of the history of baseball. — Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026 But that’s just what happened, as Arlington seized a statement 38-22 victory. — Charles Baggarly august 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 Scientists say there is still work to be done to establish exactly what happened and what made the flooding so deadly. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Right now, our focus is on those directly affected by what happened today. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026 Want to learn more about what happened on September 6 or any other day of the year? — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 That happened during the Winter Meetings in December, when the Yankees manager pointed out that the center fielder played through a nagging hamstring injury while recording -11 Defensive Runs Saved and -2 Outs Above Average, career-lows, in 2025. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Scientists from around the world are still studying what exactly happened, with greater detail expected in coming weeks and months. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026 On the other hand, a person may act paradoxically—perhaps by going on about their day as if nothing happened. — Michele Patterson Ford, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happened
  1. occurred
  2. came
  3. was
  4. did
Verb
  • The Christiana Riot, also known as the Christiana Resistance, occurred in Christiana, Pennsylvania, where free Black people and escaped slaves successfully resisted a federal marshal’s raid to capture four fugitive slaves.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Following the consolidation, layoffs at several properties, including Carowinds, occurred ahead of its seasonal opening last year.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of occurred
Verb
  • That came just a few days after news broke that Palantir had secured a $10 billion contract from the US Army over the next decade.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • All five of Bednar’s outs came via strikeout on Wednesday.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of came
Verb
  • Sanft asked jurors if there was any evidence that Davis had ever called the shots before or after the shooting.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • On top of the moving-camera-foamy-dark-mouth challenge, there was the plaque challenge.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of was
Verb
  • Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, nor did HUD officials.
    — Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Wisconsin Republicans did the same last year, and similar efforts have been raised in other states.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Definition of did

Browse Nearby Words

happenchances
happened
happened (by)
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Cite this Entry

“Happened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happened. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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