happen
Come to pass
Happen means to occur or take place, often with a sense of chance or unexpectedness: It happened so fast.
When something happens to someone, it befalls them: What happened to your arm?
To happen to do something suggests coincidence: I happened to be in the neighborhood.
As it happens introduces a relevant fact: As it happens, I know her sister.
To happen upon something is to encounter it by chance.
Happen or become known
materialize · develop · surface · appear · come about · take place · eventuate · proceed
What follows a cause
- outcomeFinal result of events
- effectResult of a cause
- aftermathResults following an event
- repercussionIndirect result of action
upshot · fallout · ramification · aftereffect · culmination · follow · ensue · lead to
Unplanned matching of events
- accidentUnintended harmful event
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
luck · probability · fortuity · contingency · uncertainty · random · aleatory · stochastic
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
startling · abrupt · unanticipated · twist · bolt · jolt · anomaly · curveball
Predetermined course of events
- providenceDivine protective care
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- predestinedDecided in advance
foreordained · inevitable · meant to be · fortune · doom · written · ordained · fated
Without advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- spur of the momentDone without prior planning
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
unpremeditated · ad-lib · extemporaneous · improvised · offhand · on the spot · whim · snap decision
transpire
Happen or become known
emerge · materialize · develop · surface · appear · come about · take place · eventuate · proceed · evolve
result
What follows a cause
repercussion · upshot · fallout · ramification · aftereffect · culmination · follow · ensue · lead to · bring about
coincidence
Unplanned matching of events
- accidentUnintended harmful event
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
randomness · luck · probability · fortuity · contingency · uncertainty · random · aleatory · stochastic · incidental
surprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
sudden · startling · abrupt · unanticipated · twist · bolt · jolt · anomaly · curveball · out of nowhere
destiny
Predetermined course of events
- providenceDivine protective care
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
predestined · foreordained · inevitable · meant to be · fortune · doom · written · ordained · fated · stars align
impromptu
Without advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- spur of the momentDone without prior planning
instinctive · unpremeditated · ad-lib · extemporaneous · improvised · offhand · on the spot · whim · snap decision · unrehearsed
happenunhappen
Cause to not have occurred
fail · fall through · miss · omit
- happy birthdayCelebratory natal salutation
- happy endingStory concludes well
- what happenedPast occurrences inquiry
- be happyExperience positive emotional state
- what's happeningCasual status inquiry
- about to happenSoon to occur
happy, happening, happens, happened, happenings, happenstance, happened upon, unhappen, happen upon