happen

v 1: come to pass; occur: "What is happening?"; "The meeting took

place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that

seemed important" [syn: {hap}, {go on}, {pass off}, {occur},

{pass}, {come about}, {take place}]

2: happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by

chance; "It happens that today is my birthday"; "These

things befell" (Santayana) [syn: {befall}, {bechance}]

3: chance to be or do something, without intention or

causation: "I happen to have just what you need!"

4: come into being; become reality; "Her dream really

materialized" [syn: {materialize}] [ant: {dematerialize}]

5: come upon, as if by accident; meet with; "We find this idea

in Plato"; "I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not

very far from here"; "She chanced upon an interesting book

in the bookstore the other day" [syn: {find}, {chance}, {hit},

{bump}, {encounter}]