befall
Come upon someone
Befall means to happen to someone, usually something bad or significant: A terrible fate befell the kingdom.
The word is literary and old-fashioned, appearing mostly in formal or dramatic contexts.
It takes a direct object—misfortune befalls a person, not just occurs.
Past tense: befell.
Come into being
unfold · materialize · come about · take place · eventuate · develop · emerge · come to pass
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
suffering · tribulation · woe · catastrophe · affliction · setback · plight · ruin
Predetermined course of events
- providenceDivine protective care
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- lotLarge amount or portion
doom · karma · predestination · inevitability · chance · luck · omen · prophecy
Not predicted or expected
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
shock · abrupt · unplanned · chance · accidental · random · without warning · out of nowhere
happen
Come into being
occur · unfold · materialize · come about · take place · eventuate · develop · emerge · come to pass · overtake
hardship
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- disasterSudden ruinous event
tragedy · suffering · tribulation · woe · catastrophe · affliction · setback · plight · ruin · loss
destiny
Predetermined course of events
- providenceDivine protective care
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- fortuneWealth or destiny
lot · doom · karma · predestination · inevitability · chance · luck · omen · prophecy · foreordination
unforeseen
Not predicted or expected
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
surprise · shock · abrupt · unplanned · chance · accidental · random · without warning · out of nowhere · blindside
befallcause
What produces an effect
bring about · inflict · perpetrate · instigate · engineer